BRENT Daniels was named in the best for the GWS Giants after they knocked off the reigning premiers in the AFL’s opening round.
The Swan Hill local kicked an equal career-high four goals in the Giants’ 32-point win against Collingwood at Engie Stadium on Saturday night.
It was also the small forward’s 25th birthday, with his parents making the trek north to celebrate.
“It’s always nice to start the season out with a win,” Daniels told Channel Nine’s The Sunday Footy Show.
“We knew Collingwood were going to be the benchmark this year, so to come out with a strong performance was great.
“Losing to them in a preliminary final by a point … there’s always going be a bit of feeling in it.”
Daniels said moving the ball faster was a big focus over the pre-season.
“We want to move the ball a lot faster,” he said.
“Take contests when we can ahead of the ball because we think we have a really dynamic forward line.
“I guess the way we set the ground up and the way we move the ball … we have some elite running defenders and explosive midfield as well that can really paint the fence and open up opposition defence.”
Daniels said a lot of his role was covering the corridor because “the best teams want to utilise it”.
“My role is down-the-line stoppages and ensure they can’t come back through there,” he said.
“Once we win the ball, I’ve got a licence to rip forward and try and get dangerous ahead of the ball.
“A lot of the time, I play on really dynamic and aggressive half backs in the league, so I think they give a really good lick at it. If you play your role well, sometimes they get away with the ball, but if I can hold my shape in the corridor, I get a good look at it the other way because sometimes they get caught up.”
Daniels also criticised Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox’s “bizarre” antics before the game.
During the pre-match warm up with the Giants, Cox shoved GWS ruck coach Shane Mumford in the back while competing in a mock ball-up exercise before the first bounce.
“Mason likes to say things that get a bit of a headline, he likes the limelight,” he said.
“But what he did before the game I thought was really bizarre. Bit of carry on, I thought.
“I’d like to think we’re really humble and hungry as a team so to see that, it wasn’t a good look I didn’t think.
“If you’re going to do that, you’re going to want to back it up on the field.”
