GWS Giants No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman on his goals for 2023 and developing his body

At the time of the AFL draft, the No.1 pick was measured and listed at 195cm. But the tall forward from Darley has an update.

“We measured maybe a month ago and I’m 196cm,” Cadman says.

And he reckons he’s not done yet.

“Yeah, I think I’ve still got a little bit in me,” Cadman tells CODE Sports on his 19th birthday. “Hopefully I can get two or three more centimetres.

“You realise the difference between marking a ball and not marking a ball is centimetres. If I can get as much reach away from a defender as possible, I’ll take it.”

That Cadman might not yet be the fully-formed human matches up with his status as a footballer: developing.

While the teen taken with the pick immediately after him – Brisbane Lions midfielder Will Ashcroft – dominates the pre-season and enters the season a raging favourite for the Rising Star award, Greater Western Sydney is treating Cadman with kid gloves.

Much like new coach Adam Kingsley’s tenure at GWS, the Giants see Cadman as a long-term project. He’s getting used to playing with and against men, although four goals in a VFL practice match against Gold Coast on the weekend is a reasonable indication that he’s coming along nicely.

“I’m not as big-bodied as all the other forwards and backs, so I’ve just been smashing the gym, working on body position,” Cadman says.

“We do this one-on-one thing. Most of the time I’m just getting bashed, getting thrown around.

“I’m just not as thick as everyone else is.”

A player whose aerialist streak is his greatest strength, Cadman wants to ensure he can hold his own in the contest, allowing him to showcase that gift through separation from defenders.

Additional smarts are helpful, too, and in former Giants skipper Phil Davis, Cadman has a mentor who knows defence better than most.

“He’s the most knowledgeable man I know. I know how to play on every backman in the league because Davo’s studied them all.”

Kingsley has been supportive too, as has the man who Cadman could one day succeed, Jesse Hogan.

“[Kingsley’s] awesome. He’s super positive. He knows when to switch on and went to switch off and have a little laugh. He’s always cracking everyone up.

“[Jesse’s] been huge. The presence he has up forward is just unmatched. When I gain a bigger body, I can take a couple more things from his game compared to mine. His ability to crash packs and the way he runs when the ball’s in the air.”

While aware that he will take time, Cadman is eyeing senior footy this year.

“My goal is to play as early as possible, whether that’s round one or round 15, I just want to get a couple of AFL games under my belt,” Cadman says.

“Everything’s been super positive from the coaches’ point of view. Coming in, it’s a completely different game plan to what I’m used to. I’ve got a lot to learn. I’m a long way off.”

The Giants in part selected Cadman at No.1 because they were comfortable he would not be a flight risk, as opposed to some other early selections. And while there is no rush on a contract extension, GWS fans would not appear to have anything to worry about on that front.

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“I’m super happy where I am. I’d be more than happy to stay here for as long as I can.”

Oddly enough for a No.1 draft pick, Cadman hasn’t even made the most off-season headlines in his house. That’s because his Drummoyne abode also includes draftees Max Gruzewski and Jason Gillbee, the latter of whom has become a cult figure through his unusually large consumption of milk.

“We probably buy two three-litre milks every two or three days,” Cadman says. “He probably drinks 75 per cent of it. He does drink a shitload of milk.”