Hendo_21
Club Legend
- Aug 14, 2021
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Change it again then, the whole staff should be cleared out. It's not good enough to consistently have our best players missing extended periods of time
Autopsy The Season That Was
- Thread starter Ichabod Noodle
- Start date
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Nicky Poulos was a key man during the dreaded David Joyce days in 2019 and somehow ascended from there into the top job!
- Apr 12, 2012
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Didn’t we do it a few years ago too? Around 2018?
- Nov 23, 2015
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- #29
AFL Media's Report Card: Season 2021
The AFL Media team wrap up the GIANTS' season.
Overall rating
7 out of 10. The GIANTS exceeded expectations under some of the most trying on-field and off-field circumstances so should be proud of their season and have high hopes for what is to come.
Best moment
The GIANTS' late-season push for finals looked set to collapse as they had a five-day break then had to make eight forced changes for their clash with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium in . But the GIANTS are often at their best with backs to the wall and a team with an average age of 23 years and two months burst out with four goals to one in the opening term. They survived a Cats' comeback in the final term to steady and win by 19 points with Toby Greene the star as he kicked four goals.
What worked
After some early season woes the GIANTS tweaked their midfield mix to bring Callan Ward and Josh Kelly back into onball roles and selected Shane Mumford as much as possible. The continued improvement of Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto also ensured the midfield was a strength and the GIANTS ranked fourth for clearances (averaging 37.1), fifth for contested ball (139.3) and turned scoring from stoppages into a significant weapon.
An inexperienced backline led by Nick Haynes and built around Sam Taylor mostly held up even as players regularly went down with injury. Lachie Ash, Isaac Cumming, Connor Idun and Jack Buckley emerged to become key players alongside Lachie Whitfield and Harry Perryman.
MVP
He might not win the club champion award but Toby Greene was clearly the GIANTS' most influential player. With 45 goals in 18 matches the superstar forward kicked the fifth-most goals a game (2.5), and topped the League for average score involvements (8.3). Greene was also an inspiration as stand-in skipper in 14 matches, selected in the Therabody AFL All-Australian team, and a regular focus for acclaim and controversy.
Surprise packet
In 10 matches across four years at the GIANTS there was little suggestion that Isaac Cumming would become an integral part of a rejuvenated backline, but he did just that in a breakout season. The Academy-product with sublime foot skills played every match and got better as the season went on. Cumming’s standout performance came in the stirring victory over Geelong in round 21 (34 disposals, 18 rebounds) and he then added more intercept marks to his game with a career-high of six in each of the next two rounds.
How should they approach list management?
The GIANTS look set to enter the Trade Period without the threat of key personnel leaving and with two top-12 draft picks in hand, including pick No.2, might even strengthen their list.
A key forward should be a priority as prized recruit Jesse Hogan was only able to overcome his ongoing injury concerns enough to play nine matches, while Jake Riccardi is out of contract and might look for more opportunities elsewhere.
The GIANTS could also look to bolster their key defender depth as out-of-contract Phil Davis enters the twilight of his career, and Jack Buckley and Lachie Keeffe recover from torn ACLs.
- Apr 12, 2012
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Does it though? HH, Sproule, Hogan, and a rest ruck. Think we will be ok.
He wasn’t really best 22 at the end. Way to inconsistent
- Jan 30, 2016
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My guess is there must be a plan for a new KPF arriving via draft or trade.
Expectation being that Riccardi leaves too.
Will be an interesting one to watch.
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Expectation being that Riccardi leaves too.
Will be an interesting one to watch.
Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com
- Jan 30, 2016
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On a lighter note, I’d love us to offer Buddy a 2 year deal for $2 million just to really mess with the Swans.
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- Apr 12, 2012
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Swans would love us to do that. So I would be against it.
- Jan 30, 2016
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If that’s a reference to their cap math I hear you.
I’m just attracted to the idea of forcing them to dig a deeper cap hole (ie extend Buddy).
We do need another KPF though.
Last edited:
- Jan 30, 2016
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It is unusual that we’re trading a player to an existing Top 4 competitor.
That’s either a strong judgement on TOJ, or a very important part of the plan to onboard a new forward.
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- Nov 23, 2015
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- #37
Puzzling really, to me. I'm unsure what he would bring that's different (or better) than their existing talls.
Hendo_21
Club Legend
- Aug 14, 2021
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Flynn too, I see him as more of a forward that spends some time in the ruck rather then the other way round.
- Apr 12, 2012
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Yep can see Briggs and Flynn in tandem with one going fwd.
Any date for the B + F?
Do we have a thread for it or in here works?
Top 5
Hopper
Kelly
Ward
Greene
Perryman
Whitfield and Taylor a couple that could get in the top 5
Best young player
Tom Green, with Ash and Idun close
Most improved
Idun or Cumming
Most courageous
Perryman or Haynes
Most invisible (Special category for Preuss in #11)
Any other categories?
Do we have a thread for it or in here works?
Top 5
Hopper
Kelly
Ward
Greene
Perryman
Whitfield and Taylor a couple that could get in the top 5
Best young player
Tom Green, with Ash and Idun close
Most improved
Idun or Cumming
Most courageous
Perryman or Haynes
Most invisible (Special category for Preuss in #11)
Any other categories?
- Aug 12, 2017
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are we actually trading him though? It all seems a bit fuzzy atm
- Jan 30, 2016
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That is a good qu and I agree it is fuzzy.
I think this is where it’s at present.
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- Thread starter
- #45
Girlfriend (who just gave birth, which is why he missed the last part of the season) is from SA
it‘s more to do with her ties there, not his.
- Apr 18, 2005
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GWS are my FLAG SMOKY for 2022.
Huge chance to win your first premiership.
Will be top 4, will be in the hunt.
Huge chance to win your first premiership.
Will be top 4, will be in the hunt.
- Apr 12, 2012
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Just need injuries to go our way for once.
Not trying to float your boat but always thought a Demons/Giants GF would be a great story/game.
- Apr 18, 2005
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It would be great. I think next year is your big chance. It’ll take some big efforts off field to get you organised but you’ve got the cattle.
