After narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon this year, second-year Geelong West coach Scott Frangos is confident of a move up the ladder for the Giants in 2025.
West finished with just three wins in 2024, snapping a 12-game losing streak with a 41-point final-round win over Corio that consigned the Devils to the kitchen utensil position.
The Giants have recruited well, but off-field adjustments have Frangos bullish about his club’s prospects.
“We’ve addressed a lot of parts of our club,” he said. “I’ve revamped the whole coaching staff (and) got a coaching director in.
“We’ve looked at how we’ve done pre-season. We’re changing all that sort of stuff because – and everyone would say the same – they don’t want to be down at the bottom end of the ladder.
“They want to be at the top. So we’re not resting on that, and we’re not using injuries as an excuse.
“We’re just pushing forward.”
Part of the revamp is the appointment of Hawthorn premiership player Michael Osborne as Director of Coaching.
And Frangos says he is already having an impact.
“Not many clubs have got an AFL premiership player as a coaching director,” Frangos said.
“Ozzy’s been great since he’s come on board, too. He brings a different way of looking at things.
“I’ve never been at an AFL level, let alone a VFL level, so it just shows what that sort of system is and what we can do.
“The limited time is a bit different to AFL that you’re training, but it’s just soaking up as much as I can with ‘him, and he’s directing all our coaches and helping us all out.
“I’m really happy with everything he’s brought in.”
Geelong West has been one of the more active GDFNL clubs this off-season.
It has welcomed Ted Walliss and Jye Bohm back and added former GFNL Giant Alex Buckwell from Apollo Bay.
Newcomers include Sam Caruso, who last played with Torquay in 2022, Grovedale youngster Harvey Murrant, and former SANFL and VFL forward Joel Coombes.
However, it’s Dennington addition Jarra Blackney-Noter that Frangos expects will catch the eye in 2025.
“We’ll look for him to run along the wing, half forward, half back, just create some excitement,” Frangos said.
“He’s going to bring a bit of flair for us.”
Frangos will be a virtual recruit after a broken collarbone ended his season just three weeks into the season.
“(I) got cleared by the doctors this year,” he said. “They were pretty happy that I could go back (to playing), and it should be fine.
“I’ve been strengthening it over the last six months.
“No contact stuff pre-Christmas, but after Christmas, I’ll load into that.”
Experienced duo Matt Ianelli and Aaron Hutchison have retired, Rhys Ginn has returned to junior club Bannockburn, while co-captain Josh Viney has defected to Inverleigh.
Frangos admits the decision by Viney, who won the GDFNL’s MVP award, caught him off-guard.
“Yeah, a little bit, but he’s made his mind up,” Frangos said.
Geelong West opens its 2025 campaign against reigning premier Thomson at West Oval on Saturday, April 5.
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