GWS believe greater maturity and wisdom and a no-fear attitude are the keys to their form surge heading into an AFL preliminary final showdown with Collingwood.
A no-fear attitude and rising self-belief have a wiser and more mature GWS confident they can avenge last years AFL finals loss to Collingwood and score a rare MCG win.
The Giants will play the Pies on Saturday in Melbourne in what will be a third preliminary final in four years for the competition’s youngest club.
GWS lost each of those two previous games, but their confidence has been boosted by their equal season-best run of three straight wins, including an elimination final blowout of the Western Bulldogs and a three point semi-final thriller against Brisbane.
The Giants smacked Collingwood by 47 points in Sydney in round 18 in their only clash this year, but suffered a 10-point loss to the Pies in an MCG 2018 semi-final.
“It’s a completely different side and we’re a much more mature group, a much wiser group,'” GWS midfielder Matt de Boer said.
“A few changes to the game plan since then as well, so we go down with that much confidence.'”
GWS also have several more fit players to pick from than the corresponding stage last year. But that is tempered by the potential loss of star Toby Greene who will face a charge of unnecessary/unreasonable contact to the eye region of the Lions’ Lachie Neale.
“There’s a significant belief in the group that we don’t hold any fear anywhere and we’ve got effort and stars across every line,” de Boer said.
“The belief we’ve got in the group at the moment is really quite profound.”
While GWS have a 3-15 overall record at the MCG, de Boer said the ground held no fears for the Giants.
“We might train this week and make the ground a little wider, but we’re confident we can go anywhere,” de Boer said.
Coach Leon Cameron previously rated gun midfielder Stephen Coniglio, who has been out of action and required surgery since he hurt his knee in the round-17 loss to Richmond, an outside chance to return in Saturday’s game.
“If there’s any doubt we will not be taking him into any game,” Cameron said.
“He needs to recover from his operation and he needs to be 100 per cent confident to play in such a huge game.”
If Coniglio was to return on Saturday, de Boer said it would be a massive boost for GWS, albeit he felt it could have a downside for him personally.
“I might have to go out of the side for him,” de boer said.
That seems highly unlikely after De Boer produced another masterful lockdown job on Brisbane’s Lachie Neal, though he was quick to credit teammates for their help.
Lachie Whitfield suffered a knock to his lower back, but played out the game and does not appear to be in doubt for the preliminary final.
© AAP
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
Geelong has been crafty and creative in its list management and has quietly assembled a very exciting young group of midfielders and half-forwards.
Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale will be looking to lead his team to a victory against Melbourne in what will be his 250th AFL game.
It’s high stakes with five teams having lost their first three games of season 2024, and in desperate need of a win.
It could be a weekend for contenders to emerge, teams to hopefully break droughts, o and overall footy to have a party.
We’ve already seen what Jack Ginnivan is capable of at Collingwood with his ability to grasp big moments - how will he go against his former teammates?
