Steve Clifton is yet to play a game of top-flight Australian rules football but he's already shaping as a key player in Greater Western Sydney's maiden AFL season.

While Gold Coast secured a handful of AFL discards for their 2010 season in the VFL, GWS have opted to stick mostly with youth for this year's inaugural season in the North East AFL (NEAFL).

Israel Folau is the club's highest profile recruit, but 24-year-old Clifton and 23-year-old Jonathan Giles are the team's old hands.

The club has been rotating the captaincy this season, but the mature pair are the obvious on-field leaders amongst the youthful group.

Giles, a ruckman who was on Port Adelaide's books but failed to play an AFL game, and Clifton, a talented midfielder who has won three VFL premierships with North Ballarat, both have big-match experience.

The Giants selected Clifton with the first pick in last year's rookie draft. He'd been training with North Melbourne.

In a sign of just how much Clifton's football nous is rated, GWS coach Kevin Sheedy believes he's an AFL coach in the making.

"I suppose all you can do is lead by example, being one of the older players, myself and Jonathan, we've had a few more years at senior level," Clifton told AAP.

"So I think if we set the tone in the physical stakes and win the hard balls, then hopefully a few of the younger guys will follow on and hopefully take it into account.

"One of the best things about our group is we haven't taken a backwards step when teams with bigger bodies have tried to throw their weight around."

James Podsiadly and Michael Barlow became the pin-up boys of the AFL's new legion of mature-age recruits after breakthrough AFL seasons last year.

Their success helped strengthen the resolve of Clifton, who played against Barlow while the pair were in the VFL.

"Once you see them make that transition from playing good VFL football to performing well at the top level, it gives you a bit of hope, a bit of confidence," he said.

"I knew the window was closing for me (last year), being 23, but I was still hopeful of getting a chance."

Clifton was joint winner of the VFL's best and fairest award last season, following in the steps of former JJ Liston trophy holders Podsiadly (2008), Aaron Edwards (2006) and Sam Mitchell (2002).

He feels he's become a better footballer since moving to western Sydney.

While many pundits have questioned just how much coaching Sheedy has done in-between his promotional requirements, Clifton says the former Essendon mentor has had a major impact on his game.

"Sheeds really takes note of all the finer details, all the little things. I suppose (the things) that may seem to go unnoticed, that will improve your game that much more," he said.

"It might mean guiding the ball down for that extra half a second ... or even pointing your hips towards the target when you're kicking."

Clifton has been sidelined with an ankle injury but is expected to return for Saturday's NEAFL clash with Belconnen in Wagga Wagga.

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