Giants veteran Heath Shaw leads his side off after their big win over Geelong on the road earlier this season. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
On the back of a disappointing visit to Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney proved its premiership credentials with an impressive 23-point victory over North Melbourne on a potentially slippy road fixture in Hobart.
After a run of five wins from six, the Giants were expected to beat the Crows, only to come unstuck. Rather than let it knock them off their stride, though, Leon Cameron’s men reclaimed second spot on the ladder with a very solid win.
As they enter their bye week, the Giants can be extremely satisfied with how the first half of the campaign has gone.
Following two preliminary final defeats then a semi-final loss last season, the club has bounced back again and is well worth its second place on the AFL ladder at this point in the year.
While there is still a long way to go between now and the end of the regular season, you’d have to say GWS looks like it is going to take some beating this year.
That’s clearly a view held by many this season, with the Giants currently priced around 9/2 in the latest betting to win the Grand Final this year.
It may not look like anything extra special now, but the win against Adelaide may prove to be season-defining. It would have been easy for GWS to have felt sorry for themselves after their loss to the Crows. Instead, the team produced a very professional performance to see off a North Melbourne side which was coming off three straight wins.
Star forward Toby Greene helped himself to three goals on his return from a knee injury, as the Giants overcame a halftime deadlock to run out 14.7 (91) to 10.8 (68) winners.
While tall forwards Jeremy Cameron, Jeremy Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg failed to really get going, scoring just a goal apiece, Greene caught the eye throughout the game, allaying any fears about his injury and proving just how important he is going to be between now and the end of the season.
Former decathlete Jake Stein made his much-publicised debut and really impressed in his first appearance, laying eight tackles and eight “one percenters” in a defensive unit that restricted North Melbourne to just three goals across the entire second half – the last two coming right at the end of the game.
If Stein can build on this solid debut, he may end up being a crucial member of this Giants defence. The 25-year old has clearly been working hard since being signed by GWS, and his hard work looks to have paid off as he did everything asked of him in a very encouraging showing.
The Giants know better than anyone that nothing is won at this stage of the year, but if they can maintain their form between now and the finals, there won’t be anyone eager to face them.
And the lessons learned from the last three year’s finals could end up being the difference between success and failure.
