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How quickly things change. When the Giants and Bulldogs came up with the ‘Prime Minister’s Cup’, they would have been certain it would last at least two matches before the PM was no longer a fan of one of the clubs.
But change can arrive at unexpected times. In life, in politics and, most definitely, in football.
It’s a reality the winless Giants, forced to throw multiple men behind the ball again last week against North Melbourne, would be clinging to right now – but not without reason.
After Round 14 last year, the Gold Coast Suns were winless and stuck to the bottom of the ladder. Just like the Giants are today.
Their percentage was 53. Quite similar to the Giants’ 50 right now.
In their last four matches, losing margins for the Suns had included 97, 95 and 126. Sounds familiar.
It wasn’t until two weeks later that the Suns turnaround was marked with a win, via the improbable scenario of Karmichael Hunt kicking a goal after the siren. It took another month for the next win to come, against GWS.
But the pressure was off and, as we’re seeing now, it was actually the start of something quite genuine. The Suns have arrived.
Going into a match this weekend that can be considered winnable, against the Bulldogs in Canberra, this story can give hope to the Giants’ small but committed fan-base. But there also problems with it.
The key difference in the second seasons of the expansion clubs is that the fourth-quarter fadeouts are far more brutal at Greater Western Sydney.
It’s telling that in games where they got a sniff the Suns were able to push right to the end. That’s how, in the first half of last year, they got within three kicks of quality teams like Essendon, Fremantle and North Melbourne.
The Giants, too, have challenged some big guns. Even bigger guns, in fact. They were 21 points up against an improved Essendon at half time. They were within two goals of Geelong at three quarter time.
But instead of taking these matches to the final siren like the Suns would have, an inability to run out games has meant the closest the Giants have gotten to winning is a 30-point loss to the Sydney Swans (not a terrible achievement, but after 13 games you’d hope for a bit more).
The reality is oppositions average 40 points a game against the Giants in fourth quarters. The Giants themselves average 14.
If all this sounds dour, it shouldn’t be taken to mean the Giants are not on track. There’s no reason for it to be panic stations.
Jeremy Cameron’s potential is enormous. The second year blues have hit the midfield group, Adam Treloar aside, but just wait until Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio, Dylan Shiel and Lachie Whitfield have some more games under their belt.
The foundation is there.
The similarities with the Suns show they’re near where they naturally should be. The differences show that maybe they could use a Gary Ablett. Their marquee man, whoever it may be, is yet to arrive.
There’s also been the draw, which for the Giants has been the third-toughest in the league to date.
And while injuries were a factor at the Suns last year too, what a difference it would make having the likes of Phil Davis and the newly retired Chad Cornes on the field. In such a young side, these losses have more of an impact.
For the Dogs clash, the Giants welcome back Cameron and Coniglio. Matthew Boyd is an out for the Bulldogs.
The Dogs, frankly, are the better side right now. But as their highest profile supporter would know, mantels can move very swiftly – and this particular mantel is destined to.
Regardless of the result, the fact is GWS aren’t all that far removed from where the Suns were at the same point.
In this light, the four points on Saturday may not seem all that important to where the Giants will ultimately end up.
But – as with their counterparts up north – the pressure will be off and, in time, it could actually be the start of something quite genuine.