The GWS Giants have recorded a crucial win over the West Coast Eagles, likely ending the visitors’ finals hopes in the process.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
GWS Giants 12.9.81
West Coast Eagles 9.6.60
The GWS Giants will host the West Coast Eagles in Sydney’s west on Saturday, with both teams needing to win, but for different reasons. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog starting from 4:35pm AEST.
GWS are second on the ladder. Here’s how the scenarios play out for them:
If they lose both of their remaining matches, and at least two of three things happen – Richmond win at least one more match (and catch them on percentage, or win both matches), Sydney win both their remaining matches, Port Adelaide win both their remaining matches – they’ll fall out of the top four.
If they win at least one of their remaining matches, they’re guaranteed a top-four finish. If that match is the one against Geelong next week, then they finish top two unless Richmond win both of their remaining matches and catch them on percentage.
If they win both of their remaining matches, they’re guaranteed a top two finish, and can finish on top but only if Adelaide lose both of their last two matches.
So in some ways it’s a surprisingly low leverage game for them – beating Geelong next week is the crucial result, if they do that then this one probably doesn’t effect where they finish.
West Coast are eighth, and have Adelaide next week. Here’s what their scenarios look like.
If they lose both of their remaining matches, they’ll be praying for the Bulldogs and Essendon to have horrific turns of form as they can’t afford either of them winning again this year. Given Essendon have a light run home, that’s not going to happen – they surely miss finals.
Win one of the two matches, well, they’re a chance, but they still need Essendon to drop a match to either Gold Coast or Fremantle, and need the Bulldogs to lose one of their next two.
Win both of the two matches, and they will certainly play finals – the Bulldogs won’t catch them on percentage, and the Bombers can’t catch them on wins.
Prediction
Someone is going to have their season take a hit, and every telling factor suggests it’s going to be West Coast, perhaps by quite a margin.
GWS Giants by 36.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog starting from 4:35pm AEST.
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
Who was playing on Kelly by the way?
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
They are too Kennedy focused. There was a moment in the last quarter when McGovern could have hit Darling up on a lead but he was waiting for Kennedy to make a move. Ended up McGovern's kick was easily intercepted by GWS.
Lroy
Guest
Yep, overuse of the handball, kicking it backwards, issues with team selections, apparently Simmo is going to wave a magic wand and next year everything will be different. We could have got more game time into guys like McCinnes, experimented with Darling in the midfield, theres plenty the coach could have done to mix things up.
Boots
Guest
The game went pretty much to script, although there wasn't a 'golden tsunami' as predicted. west coast did a good job to stay in the game and make it a close contest, but it was just more of the same - they are their own worst enemy, losing the game off their own boot in a sense. There seems to be a serious lack of 'footy brain' in this team now? Has Simmo successfully lobotomised them all into a clone team, and in the process removed their natural assets, their intuitive play? It just seems to have gone from bad to worse with each season. But makes little difference whether I'm right or wrong, because theres definitely a big shake up coming regardless of playing finals or not. We all know the names. The recruiting dept better get it right, otherwise coaches will be in the crosshairs next season, if nothing has changed.
XI
Roar Guru
Was a fun bunch of people too. Had some good banter.
Josh
Expert
Not the worst effort by the Eagles, but their season almost surely over after falling short in that one. Josh Kelly with 43 & a goal the best on ground in a crucial win for the Giants. They'll play the Cats next week in a crucial match.
Josh
Expert
FULL TIME GWS 12.9.81 WEST COAST 9.6.60
Josh
Expert
GOAL GWS Phwwooooar Josh Kelly finishes off an incredible game with a goal. GWS 12.9.81 WEST COAST 9.6.60
Josh
Expert
GOAL GWS Classy deliver from Josh Kelly to Shane Mumford and he nails the set shot. With 90 seconds left, that's the sealer. Giants win. GWS 11.9.75 WEST COAST 9.6.60
Josh
Expert
BEHIND GWS Just a behind. Three minutes to play. GWS 10.9.69 WEST COAST 9.6.60
Josh
Expert
Giants find Devon Smith up forward...
Josh
Expert
Four minutes to play. GWS 10.8.68 WEST COAST 9.6.60
Josh
Expert
Ripping tackle from Heath Shaw to save a goal.
Josh
Expert
BEHIND GWS Jonny Patton from the boundary line... unlucky. Five minutes to play. GWS 10.8.68 WEST COAST 9.6.60
Josh
Expert
Josh
Expert
GOAL GWS Instant reply from the Giants thanks to a quick turn from Toby Greene with his third! Seven minutes left. GWS 10.7.67 WEST COAST 9.6.60
Josh
Expert
GOAL WEST COAST Kennedy kicks it! One point in it, eight minutes to go. GWS 9.7.61 WEST COAST 9.6.60
Josh
Expert
Josh Kennedy takes a big mark but collides with Josh Kelly in doing so, and they're both in a bit of pain. Big shot coming up from Kennedy here.
Josh
Expert
BEHIND GWS Toby Greene goes for a roller... unlucky. 11 minutes to play. GWS 9.7.61 WEST COAST 8.6.54
Liam Salter
Roar Guru