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AAP
AAP
Joanna Guelas

I want to be a generational ruckman: GWS star Briggs

Kieren Briggs (left) enjoyed a breakthrough year with the Giants in 2023. Now he's aiming for more. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

A starting spot is not enough for Kieren Briggs - the Greater Western Sydney star wants to etch his name into AFL history.

For the first time in his career, Briggs will start a season as the undisputed No.1 ruck when the Giants' campaign gets under way on March 9.

The once-unheralded tall finished last year as the top ruckman for centre clearances and third for clearances after waiting four years to burst on the scene.

But Briggs is setting his sights on something bigger than the stats charts.

"I want to be a generational ruckman," the 24-year-old told AAP.

"I was really happy with my year, to be able to come out and be the player I wanted to be. But one year doesn't make your career.

"I can't rest on my laurels now.

"Maybe 'generational' is a bit too big of a word, but we just want to be humble and hungry and never be comfortable."

Overlooked in the 2017 draft, Briggs worked as a self-described "check-out chick" at Coles before making it to the Giants in 2019. He would have to wait until his third season to make his debut. 

Between then and the arrival of Adam Kingsley as head coach ahead of the 2023 season he played just nine games.

It was a demolishing by Collingwood's Mason Cox that gave the Sydney product the big break he was looking for.

After Cox clobbered the Giants in hitouts to condemn them to their sixth loss of 2023, Kingsley took a chance on Briggs to replace Matt Flynn in round 10. He has never looked back.

So important did Briggs become to the coach's system that the 24-year-old pushed through a shoulder injury to play in the Giants' one-point preliminary finals loss to the eventual premiers.

"I chose to play so I can't use the shoulder as an excuse," Briggs said.

"We know it's another long year now to get back to where we were ... we're burning from last year's loss and we're hungry as ever to be back in finals and win that inaugural flag for the club.

"That's our goal. That's always going to be on top of the board."

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