Greater Western Sydney have secured a double chance in the AFL finals, flirting with disaster before firing in the final quarter in a 21-point win over West Coast at Spotless Stadium.
GWS will finish in the top four and remain in the hunt for the minor premiership after triumphing 12.9 (81) to 9.6 (60).
In-demand midfielder Josh Kelly increased his value with a club-record 43 disposals for GWS, four of which came after a courageous attempt to spoil Josh Kennedy in the final quarter.
Kelly desperately threw himself into the path of Kennedy, wearing a heavy blow to the head then somehow returning to the fray amid a frantic finish.
“That’s what happens sometimes, I’ll wear it,” Kelly told Fox Footy.
“We’re starting to gel as a side, it’s pleasing.”
Kennedy converted his set shot, reducing the hosts’ lead to a single point, but Toby Greene, Shane Mumford and Kelly replied with the final three goals of the scrappy match.
Greene kicked on from a week of headlines, booting three goals, while Nathan Wilson’s pace and superboot were key factors in the Giants’ victory.
GWS’s class became clear when it mattered most but their lack of composure for most of Saturday’s pressure-laden contest will alarm coach Leon Cameron.
Poor decisions and clumsy blunders meant they repeatedly turned the ball over, gifting far too many goals to an opposition that is no certainty to play finals.
The result means the final-round battle between Geelong and GWS is expected to be a playoff for second spot on the ladder.
The crowd of 15,751 was a non-derby record for Spotless Stadium.
Mickyo
Guest
Record non derby crowd of 15k and 64k combined on Saturday arvo on 7mate and Fox in Sydney. So not great but building, that is on the back of 91k on 7mate and 55k on Fox on Friday night in Sydney for the Swans V Crows. I reckon the Swans should be on primary channel rather than secondary, those numbers are very very good for 7 mate.
Matto
Guest
"Only impressive win was over a flaky..." What?
Don Freo
Guest
Wow. If you read posts, you'd know I follow Freo AND WC. You did say you'd hardly heard of Kelly. Did you forget what you wrote? Have you noticed how many people respond to me, including you? You just might be wrong. Obviously you and others always read what I say.
anon
Roar Pro
The Giants have one somewhat impressive win over the last 2-3 months and that's against a flaky Bulldogs team that just went down to Port without giving a yelp in the last quarter. The Giants winning impressively is the exception to the rule.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Shiels had 21 touches. I wouldn't call that blanketed. He would have been in the WCE best players if playing for us. GWS knew Hutchings would go to Shiels so they adjusted their game plan accordingly and used other avenues, ie Kelly who benefited to the tune of 43 possessions. We don't need a tagger against Adelaide next weekend if we are to make the eight. If we give Essendon a win over the Dockers, then the WCE will have to outscore the Crows by about an extra 50 points Essendon beat the Dockers by. You don't do that by locking down on opposition players. You pick attacking players who can run with the ball and score goals.
truetigerfan
Guest
Seriously! Giants are cruising. Learnt a lot in finals campaign last year. A huge threat!
Don Freo
Guest
They should try to get a couple of big boys like NicNat and Scotty Lycett...oh...maybe they needn't panic. The West Aussie boy with the most to offer and not being used or coached properly at his present club is Jack Martin. He is Chad Wingard quality. Bring him home.
David C
Guest
WC need to turn over a large portion of its list and look to get a few WA boys back home from interstate. They are heading down the same path as Freo and NM.
Don Freo
Guest
There's two more teams written off by anon. That's now all of them. The flag is now between either West Widgeemooltha or South Japan. Has it occurred to you, anon, that the reason WC couldn't be put away was because WC played well? That would make them a threat to Adelaide next week and both sides still in contention. Of course, it could all be Rossie's fault.
Don Freo
Guest
Why would you omit Hutchings? He totally blanketed Shiels.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Agree that GWS are a very talented side. Expect them to get better and better over the next 2-3 years as they gel together as a champion team. One thing the WCE should learn from the game is that they need to work a hell of a lot on their handball if they want to get to the same level as the Giants. Watching the Giants run the ball out of their defense with handball was amazing. Its so precise and slick. Disappointed for Pridda. Just when he stood up and cracked in with an A Grade game, his fellow midfielders went missing and didn't give him the support. Gaff is not an A grader IMO and Jetta's game was pathetic. Ins and outs for next week: OUT: Hill, Hutchings, Partington IN: Lamb, Nelson, Wellingham
Lroy
Guest
Ah Don, cant even comment on the Giants without you sticking your nose in. I know who Kelly is, I recall seeing his dad play for East Perth. I haven't seen the son play as I don't tune in to watch Giants games, but maybe from now on I will as I quite enjoyed watching them.. Is that ok with you?? Don't you have your own team to follow, or is your life so bereft of meaning that trolling others gives you satisfaction???? For the record Don, nobody is interested in your opinion...surprised you haven't worked that out yet.. Hear that noise Don?? Someone at the sheltered workshop is calling your name... off you go champ.
anon
Roar Pro
No idea how the Giants continually struggle to put teams away despite all that talent. Two teams going nowhere come September.
Don Freo
Guest
Are you sure you have hardly heard of Kelly? The biggest trade target in the AFL (moreso than Dusty) and quite possibly this year's Brownlow winner. Will be leading after the first 6 or 7 rounds and his last 3 or 4 have been close to best on as well.
Lroy
Guest
Jesus, I'm a hard corps Eagles fan but I think the story of tonight is the Giants. It was a Tough, hard, uncompromising game, the blood flowed freely from open head wounds as guys threw themselves in with reckless abandon. Eagles have some issues.. but they had a fair go, were legitimately in with a chance to win it near the end... but.. I'm not kidding when I say there were times amongst all the chaos when the Giants made the Eagles look like witches hats. Halfway through the second quarter it was tight then suddenly the Skodas banged on 3 goals in a heartbeat... started to cruise... Eagles dug deep, pegged them back. Continued to be an arm wrestle until about 4 minutes from the end... when they did it again... 3 goals in the blink of an eyelid.... 21 point win. Most teams have a couple of match winners, these guys have at least half a dozen... had hardly heard of this guy Kelly before, he tore Eagles a new anus... Loved the game last night, but crikey I enjoyed watching those Giants in action, even if it was my side who got smoked. They take on the Cats next week, that should be a beauty.