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Most will see this as an incredible upset, but from the opening minutes of this match it simply looked like one very good side effectively demolishing a much less accomplished team.
REPORT: GIANTS FLOG HAWKS BY 75
Obviously we know the history of these two sides doesn’t bear that out, but no newcomer to the sport would believe you if you told them it was the team in white and gold that were the three-time reigning premiers, and the guys in orange had never so much as played finals.
Make no mistake, there has been a seismic shift in the power balance in this league. It’s been coming for a few weeks, and tonight it was made abundantly clear.
The Giants set the tone by completely dominating the first quarter, racking up a six-goal lead. The Hawks rallied a bit in the second, but couldn’t make any real inroads on that margin. The Giants simply breezed away in the third to push a 45-point margin out to 64 at three quarter time, and then 75 at games end.
The Giants won every quarter. In fact, they won everything there was to win. They had 99 more disposals, won almost three times as many stoppages, 39 more contested possessions, and even 22 more tackles for good measure. Inside 50s ended up about even but there was an enormous difference in the purpose with which the Giants pumped the ball forward and the Hawks’ scrappy kicks into a deep flank.
It started in the middle. Led by Dylan Shiel, the Giants controlled the clearances, and when given the opportunity would fire it far into the forwardline, where Lobb, Cameron and Patton were waiting. Even when they couldn’t mark – and Lobb seemed able to mark almost anything this evening – once it was on the ground the Hawks simply couldn’t find an effective clearance. The defensive pressure of GWS forced them into numerous turnovers in their back half, which usually resulted in goals. This was a feature of the game pretty much from beginning to end.
At the other side of the ground, Heath Shaw seemed to always be near the ball when the Hawks did manage to get it forward of half way. The other GWS defenders – Haynes, Wilson, Patfull, Buntine and Davis – played cameo parts in the Shaw show, but were all useful at different times.
For his part, Jack Gunston was one Hawk who still performed well against the onslaught, finishing with five goals. But most Hawthorn players will be disappointed with their individual output, particularly Smith, Birchall, Lewis and Shiels, who were far down on their best. The story tonight is the Giants, but there are a few worries for Hawthorn as well.
This is the culmination of a very good month of footy by GWS. Last year they started well – although not this well – before fading after about round 8. I don’t think that’s going to happen this year. I think they’re going to be a big factor in season 2016.
Final score
GWS Giants 24.14 (158)
Hawthorn Hawks 12.11 (83)
The AFL’s newest team takes on the AFL’s most successful team, as the GWS Giants host the Hawthorn Hawks at Spotless Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 16:35pm AEST.
No matter which team you support, no footy fan could help but be curious about today’s match-up.
The Giants, with their powerful squad full of the best young talent in the land, aspire to be the best team in the land. Hawthorn, after three consecutive premierships, are there already.
Conventional wisdom says there will be a point where the rising stars overtake the ageing powerhouse, but no one knows when exactly.
GWS may have won this fixture last season, but no one could reasonably argue that reflected the true state of the two teams in 2015.
But this year there is a sense that the gap has narrowed considerably.
The Giants have generally been impressive, and won their two most recent matches in convincing fashion.
Hawthorn have had one of the toughest possible draws, and come through with an impressive 4-1 record, but three one-kick wins in a row suggests they might be getting closer to a loss.
Travelling interstate to play a confident, in-form opponent might well be a tough ask.
That said, there’s no denying the quality of the visitors.
Sam Mitchell at thirty-three years of age is in imperious form. Josh Gibson has been impenetrable at the back. Paul Puopolo is fresh off the best game of his career.
The Giants, for their part, have been buoyed by the excellent form of Tom Scully and Stephen Coniglio, while Greene and Cameron were devastating up forward against the Saints.
For mine, the most intriguing battle today will be across Hawthorn’s half forwardline.
Nathan Wilson, Zac Williams and Heath Shaw give the Giants tremendous drive from the back, while Cyril Rioli, Luke Breust and Paul Puopolo are adept at stopping opponents from doing exactly that. This may be where the game is decided.
At selection, the Giants lose Devon Smith to injury, replaced by Rhys Palmer. Hawthorn drop Billy Hartung along with the injured Will Langford, replaced by Daniel Howe and debutant Kieran Lovell.
Forget cliches about ‘knowing how to win’, Hawthorn are simply a very good footy team. But they’re up against another good team today. Purely on form, I’ll back GWS to edge out the Hawks, but not with a lot of confidence.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 16:35pm AEST.
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