Coach Adam Kingsley is confident restricted free agent Harry Himmelberg will remain at GWS to spearhead their promising forward line into the future.
Himmelberg was the hero in GWS’s two-point win over Hawthorn, kicking the winning goal then getting back to rush a behind to save the game.
The 26-year-old swingman’s four-year deal ends this year and is expected to receive plenty of interest elsewhere if he doesn’t re-sign.
“It’s an enormous priority for us. He’s clearly a really important player for us and will be for a long period of time,” Kingsley told reporters.
“I’m not aware of the update with that, I presume we’re still in discussions with him but I’m fully confident that Harry will be a Giant from next year and beyond.
“So we’re just concentrating on playing good football at the moment trying to win games and build our season.”
Kingsley took great delight in Himmelberg’s late heroics against Hawthorn and his versatility.
“Super impressive effort. To be able to win the game and save the game within a matter of a minute and a half, not too many players could ever say that,” Kingsley said.
“He’s a super-important player for us. His versatility … is really important.”
Kingsley was delighted with how Himmelberg, resurgent tall Jesse Hogan and No.1 pick and debutant Aaron Cadman worked together against Hawthorn, and considers Jake Riccardi another legitimate option going forward.
“They were really, really strong on the weekend. Really competitive in all the aerial contests and managed to kick some goals between them. Inaccuracy obviously, needs a bit of work but they worked well as a trio,” he said.
“As a foursome they’re gonna be really strong for us long term and that competitiveness because at the moment we’re only playing three, really drives the standards and their improvements.
“That’s probably the exciting factor that goes unnoticed is together they’ll drive one another to become better and that’s going to help us not only in the short term, but in the long term as well.”
The Giants (2-3) face a tough test against Brisbane (3-2) at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Saturday, made tougher by Tom Green’s one-match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Josh Ward.
Kingsley said GWS opted not to challenge the ban as they believed it would be hard to get the impact downgraded from medium to low.
Green is likely to be replaced by Harry Perryman, who is returning from a hamstring injury.
