The Giants endured a tough loss, and that’s reflected in the performance of their selected 22. All will be better for the humbling experience, but it’s a rough day for the Giants. Here’s some out-of-ten rankings for the inaugural GWS Giants premiership side.
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Matt de Boer – 2/10
Sent to Dusty in the opening stages, as expected, but moved onto Prestia. De Boer was decent enough in locking down the latter, but the former Docker trailed off, and became pretty invisible as the Giants slumped further on the scoreboard. Finished with just 12 disposals.
Jeremy Cameron – 4/10
Emblematic of the Giants’ intensity early on and slammed through the first of the clash, while being involved in four of their ten scores. But Cameron provided not a lot in the way of spark and, importantly, no more majors.
Jeremy Cameron kicked the first of the game. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )
Aidan Corr – 6/10
I hope it’s just not me, but Corr was already one of the Giants most anonymous players, and he didn’t exactly help his publicity in the premiership decider. Ignorant of that, he accumulated touches with one of the team’s highest efficiencies, so he can hold his head high.
Brent Daniels – 5/10
Showcased some nice skills, but was one of many, many Giants who went a bit missing as play wore on. Finished with no majors, but provided a smidgen of spark at times. Finished with fifteen touches.
Phil Davis – 5/10
There were doubts aplenty as to whether Davis would play, and he didn’t exactly reassure. Looked a little lost in defence in the first half and, while he provided some highlights in goal-saving marks, had a pretty indifferent game. As skipper, nobody can begrudge him for taking this loss harder than most.
Jeremy Finlayson – 1/10
Finlayson touched the football just once. So fantastic through the season, it’s a pity to produce such a poor game in his inaugural grand final.
Toby Greene – 6/10
No doubt the man of the moment, he didn’t have too much of an impact in the first term, but looked better as the clash went on and was admirable enough in a tough midfield battle. He finished with 23 touches. Greene would be in their top three or four players today and, given the tumult of the past few weeks, he’ll be pleased with that.
Toby didn’t have much to smile about on grand final. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Nick Haynes – 7/10
Produced a typically polished defensive performance finishing with 24 touches, 15 marks and an 80 per cent-odd disposal efficiency. Haynes was one of the Giants best in the loss.
Harry Himmelberg – 6/10
Potentially the Giants’ best forward, Himmelberg led the team for marks inside 50 – with two – and booted one of their three goals. Outside of the club’s defenders, Himmelberg led the team for marks.
Jacob Hopper – 6/10
Given he was just one of three Giants to kick a goal, he’s in rare territory. Complemented that third-quarter major with a decent enough 19 touches – eight of them contested. Hopper stood tall when many of his camp didn’t.
Josh Kelly – 4/10
Not the best performance from the mercurial midfielder. Actually, that might be an understatement. Statistically, he garnered 15 touches, but I can’t recall Kelly doing a whole lot with the ball in hand. That’s a pity.
Adam Kennedy – 2/10
Very, very quiet, and scarcely providing any memorable moments, Kennedy produced a definitively lacklustre performance.
Daniel Lloyd – 5/10
Lloyd finished with 15 touches – the majority of them contested. In a thoroughly-smashed midfield, Lloyd provided some fight. In such a loss, that’s as good as anything.
Shane Mumford – 5/10
Provided physicality, but, like his ever-feisty counterpart in Greene, Mumford seemed rather limp. Given he lost the ruck battle to Richmond’s enviable Ivan Soldo-Toby Nankervis duo, it wasn’t the finest of days – perhaps his last in the AFL – for Mumford.
Harry Perryman – 5/10
Didn’t really hear his name called, but Perryman accumulated 21 touches – the fifth most of any Giant – and played a plenty decent game though the midfield. For that, he gets praise.
Sam Reid – 2/10
Given the Giants inability to score, it’s hard to begrudge Reid’s poor afternoon, but it’s difficult to praise a pretty indifferent performance nevertheless.
Heath Shaw – 7/10
Consummate defensive performance from the veteran; marshalling the troops at the backline with fine play. Not sure whether that’ll be his final game but, individually, it wouldn’t be a bad way to finish a storied career.
Tim Taranto – 7/10
The prodigiously talented youngster put in a pretty good performance, becoming the Giants’ top disposal-getter, and was also a presence in the trenches, with the second-most contested possessions out of all players.
Sam Taylor – 3/10
Taylor was pretty good in the first half, but, like many of his counterparts, faded in his second half. Not to sound like I’m repeating myself, but, yet again, a Giant with an indifferent game.
Adam Tomlinson – 4/10
One of plenty of players who, owing to the game itself, found it difficult to stand out. Tomlinson’s 17 touches weren’t awful but weren’t game-turning.
Lachie Whitfield – 4/10
Got down in the trenches early, and looked to be putting in a ‘what, he had appendicitis a week ago?’ type of performance. Whitfield’s game was far from his best – no Giant achieved that – but was passable enough. Faded in the second half, however, to finish with 14 touches.
Zac Williams – 6/10
One of the Giants’ finest performers today, Williams managed to accumulate disposals and was an energetic sight in the midfield. 21 touches provided some good statistical evidence of Williams’ efforts. One to watch for next year.
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