Xavier O'Halloran is a roleplayer, without a particularly impressive physical attribute to set him apart from the pack. Today and throughout the early part of the season the Giants are going to be relying on his type more than ever, with a raft of top-liners sidelined with injury. This is by no means the first time GWS has suffered from a long injury list, and in previous years opportunities arose for players like James Peatling and Brent Daniels to step up their game and join the ranks of A-graders. O'Halloran now has the job in front of him, like the boy with the barrow.
Xavier O'Halloran is a roleplayer, without a particularly impressive physical attribute to set him apart from the pack. Today and throughout the early part of the season the Giants are going to be relying on his type more than ever, with a raft of top-liners sidelined with injury. This is by no means the first time GWS has suffered from a long injury list, and in previous years opportunities arose for players like James Peatling and Brent Daniels to step up their game and join the ranks of A-graders. O'Halloran now has the job in front of him, like the boy with the barrow.
X marks the sleeper
Former Vic Metro captain Xavier O'Halloran picked up 20 touches and 74 points through his 12 NEAFL matches with a keen affinity to throw it on the boot. The hard-running youngster missed a cluster of midseason games due to a lateral collateral ligament injury in his knee, although he showed so signs of ongoing issues in collecting 25 touches in his return game. O'Halloran is a good chance to break his senior selection duck in 2020. While he won't have the job security nor ceiling to place him in draft calculations, he's a worthy bargain-basement selection in salary-cap formats for bench cover which is where you should hear a bit of hype around him during the Marsh series.
XOH is no hacker
The Victorian Metro captain at the Championships, Xavier O’Halloran arrives at the Giants as an exceptional leader. Renowned for his excellent delivery by foot, the young Giant displayed this trait with over four score involvements per game from his midfield role. He kicked and assisted a goal in each outing across the Championships, ever reliable moving the ball into the attacking arc. Positioned primarily as a midfielder throughout his junior career, Xavier O’Halloran may well be better suited to a half forward role at the elite level. With very few Giants spending the bulk of their time connecting the midfield and forward division, O’Halloran may fit a need at the club. Watch his early performances with interest, although he has rarely accumulated enough to be a viable fantasy pickup.
