Giants coach's bold call on former No.1 pick

GWS Giants coach Adam Kingsley has declared last year's No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman has what it takes to deliver the club it's first AFL premiership.

Cadman was selected with the first pick of the 2022 AFL draft, but played just 12 games across the 2023 season.

The Giants however are still keen to lock the 19-year-old into a new contract as soon as possible.

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"He's a massive part of our future," Kingsley told the media on Wednesday.

"A big key forward who can win the ball on the ground and in the air."

Kingsley, who just finished up his second year at the helm, dubbed Cadman as the next "man", that will head up the club in years to come.

Despite kicking just six goals across his 12 games in 2023, Kingsley still lauds Cadman as the Giants' next big hope.

"He complements who we have up there (in the forward line) already and I see him in years to come taking over and being the man," he said.

The Giants are looking to extend Cadman's deal, after the club traded up in the 2022 draft to land the Victorian star prospect.

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"We're really keen to lock him away quickly and are quite excited about what he's going to be as a Giants player," Kingsley said.

As for his side as a whole, Kingsley's men have swiftly moved on from yet another heartbreaking finals exit, after their one-point loss to Collingwood in the 2023 preliminary final, ready to use it to take the next step.

"We're really confident that the way we play is the right way, particularly in finals, but we didn't maximise a few of those moments during that game," Kingsley said.

"So there's opportunity there for us to improve and we've got to get to work."

The Giants coach says although his side are "disappointed" with their 2023 campaign, they expect to play finals again in 2024.

"Although we were pleased with our season last year as a whole, we were really disappointed with the way that it finished," Kingsley said.

"But there's nothing that we can do about that now. We've got to get to work and try to recreate that again next year."