Stefan Giro wins Fremantle Dockers time trial for young players

[Glasgow]

Stefan Giro proved too quick for some high-profile teammates in Fremantle’s 2km time trial for young players this morning.

The Dockers’ first to fourth-year players returned to training on Monday, beginning a long pre-season ahead of what is likely to be a defining campaign in 2019.

And it was Giro who made an early statement among the younger cohort with the time trial win, beating midfielder Andrew Brayshaw across the line.

Ethan Hughes finished third, followed by Griffin Logue, Sam Switkowski and Connor Blakely.

Giro made 10 senior appearances in the back half of his debut campaign in 2018, including a career-best 19-disposal, six-tackle game to help lead Fremantle past Port Adelaide in round 17.

Brayshaw’s encouraging second-place finish came after he spoke earlier in the week about building his fitness following his time on the sidelines with a broken jaw due to Andrew Gaff’s derby hit.

“Given that midfield spot has opened up, you have to be as fit as you can to get those minutes in,” he said.

“Body work is probably my main thing.

“Last year being a bit of a smaller body, I’ve been trying to put on a bit of weight and be that inside hard-nosed midfielder.”