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VFL GWS VFL 2025 - Wildcard Final vs Richmond, Sat 23 August

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we are stacked with small forwards
Thomas and Delana have done well at AFL level and Im pretty confident Phoenix is the best of them.
Throw in the guys we have in AFL plus binga and Hannaford (who may end up elsewhere) and it is an embarrassment of riches

Do you really think Hannaford would do a Bruhn and go after only his first two years?
 
Do you really think Hannaford would do a Bruhn and go after only his first two years?
I meant a different position as opposed to different club.

I have a feeling he may end up in the midfield.
 
4th placed GWS playing 2nd place Footscray Dogs. Looking likely to be a second loss to the Dogs in two days. :huh:

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS vs GWS GIANTS​

Friday 1 August, 2:05pm, Mission Whitten Oval

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS
B:
N. Coffield (17), L. Jones (19), Z. Walker (41)
HB: L. Jaques (11), B. Khamis (24), M. Sellwood (37)
C: L. Kennedy (35), C. Hynes (6), T. Duryea (15)
HF: A. Scott (28), J. Croft (16), S. Davidson (42)
F: B. Crofts (54), L. Smith (40), A. Jones (32)
R: R. Gardner (43), J. Harmes (22), J. Dolan (26)
INT: C. Craig-Peters (61), D. Orgill (50), J. Kellett (57), L. Muratore (68), L. Ramshaw (60)
23rd Player: L. Ramshaw (60)
EMG: E. Hunt (56), E. Macpherson (59), D. Cuningham (51), T. Maple (65)

IN: L. Muratore
OUT: W. Lewis (unavailable)

GWS GIANTS
B:
J. McQuade (65), L. Keeffe (25), H. Montgomery (50)
HB: J. Leake (30), H. Oliver (19), B. McGee-Galimberti (49)
C: B. Kane (56), J. Fahey (34), P. Lewis-Smith (61)
HF: J. Lugsdin (53), J. Delana (38), N. Wardius (42)
F: M. Gruzewski (35), R. Hebron (47), L. Smith (36)
R: N. Madden (41), J. Wehr (10), N. Bradshaw (66)
INT: P. Gothard (11), T. Moraschi (67), J. Butson (58), I. Hughes (54), R. Hamilton (60)
23rd Player: B. Kane (56)
EMG: M. Blow (70), K. Gibbs (71), M. Allen (59), D. Fitzgerald (72)

IN: J. Butson, R. Hamilton, B. Kane, J. McQuade, T. Moraschi, N. Wardius
OUT: H. Rowston, H. Thomas (AFL), L. McCarthy (injured), L. Montgomery (injured), M. Blow, A. Swinnerton (omitted)
NEW: Brody Kane, 17, 181cm, GWS Giants Academy/East Coast Eagles

Head-to-head: Footscray 4-2; At Whitten Oval: Footscray 1-0; Streak: GWS Giants 1; Last time: GWS Giants 17.18 (120) def Footscray 6.11 (47)
 

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I think we do a pretty good job of drafting, but no more "Giants players" from Caruso. Just pick the best player with R1. As Cogs etc retire, will be plenty of opportunity regardless of position if the players are going enough.
 

The GWS Giants have taken a hit for their trip to People First Stadium, where they must beat the Gold Coast Suns to have any chance of hosting either a Wildcard Final or Elimination Final.

Leading goal kicker Max Gruzewski and Jacob Wehr have both been included in the AFL team and Phoenix Gothard and Nathan Wardius are out with injury, with no AFL-listed players are among the Giants’ six inclusions.

The Suns regain Ben Jepson and U18 All Australian Koby Coulson to cover loss of injured club great David Swallow and promoted pair Malcolm Rosas and Alex Sexton.

GOLD COAST SUNS vs GWS GIANTS​

Saturday 16 August, 3:45pm, People First Stadium

GOLD COAST SUNS
B:
C. Graham (46), S. Lemmens (23), C. Bell (31)
HB: N. Beikoff-Smart (55), A. Eastham (42), D. Patterson (47)
C: L. Johnston (38), B. Addinsall (63), B. Jepson (44)
HF: J. Rogers (29), L. Lombard (30), L. Gulbin (39)
F: J. Walter (4), C. Lewis (45), M. Enders (56)
R: N. Moyle (21), T. Berry (16), K. Coulson (59)
INT: H. Heathcote (57), J. Tsitas (43), Z. Uwland (51), C. Collins (61), N. Francis (52)
23rd Player: H. Heathcote (57)
EMG: L. Cramp (60), L. Chapman (53), H. Greenwood (49), C. Nancarrow (64)

IN: K. Coulson, M. Enders, N. Francis, B. Jepson
OUT: M. Rosas, A. Sexton (AFL), D. Swallow (injured), L. Chapman (omitted)

GWS GIANTS
B:
H. Montgomery (50), L. Keeffe (25), L. McCarthy (65)
HB: J. Hart (55), H. Oliver (19), B. McGee-Galimberti (49)
C: E. Matthews (64), J. Fahey (34), P. Lewis-Smith (61)
HF: J. Lugsdin (53), J. Delana (38), T. Moraschi (67)
F: A. Swinnerton (56), R. Hebron (47), L. Smith (36)
R: N. Madden (41), J. Leake (30), N. Bradshaw (66)
INT: M. Allen (59), S. McMeeken (62), J. Butson (58), I. Hughes (54), R. Hamilton (60)
23rd Player: E. Matthews (64) (** note: he's also named on field **)
EMG: K. Gibbs (68), D. Fitzgerald (69)
 
Unfortunately we lost 64-94 to Gold Coast. We ended the home and away season with a 10 win 8 loss record. We are currently 9th (10 teams make finals in the VFL), and whilst there are still a couple of games still to play that will influence the composition of the finalists, we will definitely make the finals as we cannot finish any lower than 10th.

 
Unfortunately, our VFL boys got overrun in the last. We got away to a bright start, which Suns pegged back, then it was level-pegging until the end of the third quarter. Hot day, lots more AFL-listed players for them, plus their excellent band of U18 players in their team. Harry Oliver playing in defence was outstanding, so he's shown he's ready to go if required (although finals would not be the time to blood a draftee), while James Leake also had a strong game. Nick Madden and Logan Smith were crushed by Ned Moyle, so Madden not ready for the blowtorch of AFL finals yet.

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we’ll be playing Richmond in Melbourne next Saturday in the elimination “wild card” match.

Finishing the VFL’s home and away season in ninth spot, the Wildcard Round will allow the GIANTS a chance to win their way into this year’s finals series with victory over the eighth-placed Tigers on Saturday.

A unique concept introduced in 2023, the VFL Wildcard Round features two matches between the sides who finished seventh to tenth on the VFL ladder at the conclusion of the home and away season, with the two winners earning the last two finals spots.


 

The Smithy’s VFL teams for the Wildcard Finals.

Richmond’s key position stocks have been bolstered for its clash with the GWS Giants at ETU Stadium. The Tigers, who have been beaten in Wildcard Finals in each of the past two years, have included Jacob Blight, Campbell Gray and Samson Ryan for Saturday’s match, while Steely Green also returns. Josh Gibcus is the only AFL-listed player to go out of Richmond’s team following last week’s defeat to Williamstown, with the injury-plagued young defender earning a richly-deserved promotion to the senior team for his first AFL game since Round 1, 2024.

GWS star Brent Daniels will make his return from injury via the Wildcard Final in his first game since the Giants’ Round 15 AFL win over the Brisbane Lions. It will be just the second time Daniels has played in the VFL, with his previous appearance coming for Geelong back in 2017 prior to being drafted. Phoenix Gothard and Oli Hannaford have also been named among six inclusions for the Giants, however Jacob Wehr goes out of the team.

RICHMOND vs GWS GIANTS​

Second Wildcard Final
Saturday 23 August, 12:10pm, ETU Stadium

RICHMOND
B:
C. Gray (50), M. El Nour (57), J. Blight (46)
HB: K. Smith (49), N. Collier (63), L. Street (55)
C: L. George (67), H. Scott (74), A. Johnson (51)
HF: S. Green (48), M. Yassine (52), J. Alger (29)
F: J. Koschitzke (20), L. Fawcett (37), M. Raso (77)
R: O. Hayes-Brown (47), L. Wilson (56), J. Garner (53)
INT: S. Toner (68), N. Guiney (62), N. Girolami (59), S. Ryan (32), T. McKenzie (60)
23rd Player: M. Raso (77)
EMG: S. Phillips (81), S. Lai (76), T. Ferguson (73), J. Pollocks (79)

IN: J. Blight, C. Gray, S. Green, S. Ryan
OUT: J. Gibcus (AFL), T. Ferguson, S. Phillips, J. Pollocks (omitted)

GWS GIANTS
B:
L. McCarthy (65), L. Keeffe (25), B. McGee-Galimberti (49)
HB: H. Montgomery (50), H. Oliver (19), J. Fahey (34)
C: E. Matthews (69), J. Leake (30), R. Hamilton (60)
HF: P. Gothard (11), B. Daniels (16), T. Moraschi (67)
F: R. Hebron (47), O. Hannaford (13), L. Smith (36)
R: N. Madden (41), J. Lugsdin (53), J. Delana (38)
INT: W. Shaw (57), S. McMeeken (62), J. Butson (58), P. Lewis-Smith (61), H. Birks (55)
23rd Player: E. Matthews (69)
EMG: M. Blow (70), M. Harms (56), M. Allen (59), I. Hughes (54)

IN: H. Birks, J. Butson, B. Daniels, P. Gothard, O. Hannaford, W. Shaw
OUT: J. Wehr (AFL), M. Allen, N. Bradshaw, J. Hart, I. Hughes, A. Swinnerton (omitted)

Head-to-head: Richmond 3-0; At ETU Stadium: Richmond 3-0; Streak: Richmond 3; Last time: GWS Giants 12.8 (80) def by Richmond 13.14 (92) – Round 10, 2025, ENGIE Stadium
 
We have won only one league competition so far in our history, when our Reserves won the 2016 NEAFL premiership. Whilst this is our first ever finals appearance in the VFL since entering the VFL in 2021, realistically our reserves are not going to win the VFL premiership this year. All I am hoping is that we continue to win and progress in the finals series, as it gives us a great opportunity to give players returning from injury game time, and also give players in the VFL a chance to put pressure for spots in the first grade.
 

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How did Daniels go?
Brent Daniels showed no signs of rust on return from a nagging adductor injury in Greater Western Sydney's 18-point Wildcard Round loss to Richmond on Saturday.

Daniels had an immediate impact, finishing with 27 disposals, nine clearances and six tackles in a promising return which will give Adam Kingsley a big selection headache ahead of the Giants' premiership tilt.

There's a highlights package of his touches in the game in the State League Wrap-up.
 
Unfortunately, we lost to Richmond - 17.14.116 def 14.14.98


Youngster Phoenix Gothard was on fire up forward, slotting four goals to go with 19 disposals in a big outing, with Ollie Hannaford (10 touches) contributing two goals.

Josh Fahey was the leading ball-winner with 34 touches and nine marks, while Harrison Oliver (31 disposals, seven marks) was also prolific.

In the ruck, Nick Madden dominated with 32 hitouts, along with six clearances and 17 disposals.

Giants Academy product Josaia Delana (18 disposals, seven clearances, five tackles) impressed again, as did youngster James Leake, who finished with 17 disposals, five clearances and four marks.

Logan Smith (10 hitouts) and Lachlan Keeffe (eight disposals) were other AFL-listed Giants in action.
 

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With Collingwood losing and being eliminated in their VFL wildcard match, and Bulldogs not making the AFL finals, only Brisbane and Hawthorn (Box Hill) amongst the AFL final contenders now have a VFL side playing in the finals.
 
Essendon has signed for their VFL Ovens and Murray defender Jace McQuade, who was part of GWS VFL Albury VFL, playing 3 games. Had also trained with Carlton VFL; and was named in a back pocket in this year’s Ovens and Murray team of the year.
 

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