Flying high after securing a sixth-straight AFL win with a come-from-behind 18-point triumph against Brisbane at the Gabba, that big sound from the west is gaining volume for GWS.
The Giants leapfrogged the Lions on the ladder with Saturday’s 13.4 (82) to 8.16 (64) win, overturning a 30-point quarter-time deficit to surge home in a six-goals-to-one final term.
Youngster Darcy Jones capped an all-action display with two crucial goals in the last quarter, first to level scores and then to put the visitors ahead for the first time since the match’s opening minutes.
Supporting Jones was Aaron Cadman who kicked an equal career-best three goals – all in the fourth quarter – as the Giants enhanced their prospects of a top-two finish.
It’s a run of form that is sure to have premiership rivals wary but Giants coach Adam Kingsley also said his team’s best is yet to come, especially after a first quarter where only the Lions’ inaccuracy prevented the hosts from opening up an unassailable lead.
“The reality was we were getting absolutely smashed in every facet and we were five goals down,” Kingsley said.
“That’s still a big margin. That’s a 20-goal loss if it continues but we rectified things … from quarter-time onwards, I thought it was fantastic.
“We’re far from the finished product.
“That’s exciting but now we’re coming towards the pointy end of the season … we’ve got a bit to work on.”
Tom Green was hugely influential for the Giants with 29 disposals while Lachie Whitfield had 28 touches despite spending some time off in the third quarter with a foot issue.
Coleman Medal leader Jesse Hogan also kicked three goals for the Giants, leading Lions coach Chris Fagan to admit he’d got the chocolates in his individual battle with Brisbane defender Harris Andrews.
The loss ends Brisbane’s nine-game winning run and leaves them needing victories in their final two home-and-away matches to seal a top-four finish.
Will Ashcroft was a standout for the Lions with 29 disposals, eight marks and five clearances in his best display since returning from the ACL injury that ended his debut season last year while Joe Daniher and Callum Ah Chee scored two goals apiece.
Fagan felt an inability to finish off the Giants when his team was on top played a role in the win but also said the Lions had simply been outplayed in the last three quarters of the match.
“It’s hard to be critical of my midfielders (but) they got beaten today,” Fagan said.
“They'll be the first to admit it.
“It’s unusual for Harris, he usually does really well on his opponent but today I think Hogan had the better of him and Cadman had the better of Darragh Joyce.
“It’s so hard to stay up and play at a high level so maybe this is the little check that we needed to get us to bounce back up again for the final two weeks.”
