Giants young gun Harry Perryman is keen to return to Canberra this weekend as his side look to get their first win on the board for the 2021 season.
The Giants make their long-awaited return to Canberra, hosting the Melbourne Demons on Easter Sunday, having last played here in the infamous ‘snow’ match against the Hawks in August 2019.
“I remember the last game was in the snow, I think it will be a bit different on Sunday night,” Perryman smiled.
That happened to be Perryman’s first and only game so far at Manuka in his burgeoning 54-game career and was an unusual loss for the Giants at their second home ground.
Counting that game, the Giants have won 12 of their last 14 matches in the capital.
“We usually get a good crowd. I know the boys love getting down there,” he said.
Hailing from the tiny town of Collingullie in the NSW Riverina, Perryman said he is looking forward to playing in front of family and friends this weekend who will make the two-and-a-half-hour road trip.
“I think I’ve got a fair few friends and family coming down,” he said.
“I know a lot of people from home and that area come to the Canberra game, it definitely has a bit of a country feel to it.”
After making the 2019 AFL grand final, the Giants endured a tough season last year, finishing 10th and missing the finals for the first time since 2015.
Having started their 2021 campaign with a narrow loss to St Kilda followed by a 31-point defeat at the hands of Fremantle in Perth, Perryman is confident the Giants have plenty of time to turn their season around.
“We definitely have had a couple of tough losses,” he said, “We’ve just got to get back to winning the footy, get back to contested ball, which is what we usually pride ourselves on.”
“I’m sure we can turn it around, it’s only round two.
“If we can get a bit of confidence, then some momentum and then we can attack the season.”
The on-field growth of the highly versatile 22-year-old midfielder was a standout for the Giants last year in an otherwise sub-standard season.
After a break-out, career-best season that was also the club’s worst since he was drafted in 2016, Perryman is keen to continue improving personally, and help his team out by playing wherever he’s needed.
“I’ve been playing more down back this year, which is where I started my career. It’s just adjusting to that again, doing whatever I can to win games of footy.
“I always like to play in the midfield, but there’s plenty of players in there so happy to float around wherever the team needs me.
“I don’t mind pushing forward and kicking a goal either.”
The Giants host the Melbourne Demons at Manuka Oval Sunday 4 April, 6.10pm; buy tickets here.
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