GWS: Why so inconsistent?

[WesternSydneyHawk]

In 2025, the Giants' season was a real tale of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

At their best, the GWS have looked like genuine contenders, with big wins against the likes of Geelong (twice), Collingwood, and Brisbane. That's three of the current top four, as well as Gold Coast.

They even managed to outplay Hawthorn in Launceston during the first half of their round 3 clash, before the Hawks clawed their way back for a narrow win.

Other weeks, the Giants only managed the narrowest of wins against what should have been far weaker sides. Just 3 points against Melbourne, and 3 points against Essendon.

And then it gets ugly. Losses to Port Adelaide in round 13 and the Swans in round 8. A 34 point loss to Freeo in round 10, and an 88 point thrashing by the Western Bulldogs in round 21.

The pattern appears to have continued into early 2026.

Opening round, the Giants absolutely spanked the Hawks at Engie, 19.8.122 to 14.11.95. Then just one week later, GWS copped an 81 point loss, again at the hands of the Bulldogs.

You watch the Giants at their best against the eventual premiers, and you think this team has to be a flag contender.

Then within weeks they'll either barely get over the line or lose to a team that's rebuilding.

Yes, GWS has a long injury list, and they'll be a powerhouse when everyone comes back.

But the team that showed such discipline against the Hawks was basically the same side that got mauled by the Doggies.

So why are the Giants been so inconsistent? Why such a big gap between their best and worst footy?

And if you were in Adam Kingsley

Adam Kingsley

Age

50

Ht

183cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.9

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.4

4star

K

10.4

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

's position, what would you do to get them playing at their best more often?

 

[Sentinel]

I agree with the premise, although they have been solidly hit by injuries to start the year. Green, Taylor, Kelly, Daniels, Cadman, Jones and Bedford would all have a claim for best 23 and were missing today. And for some reason they never show up against the Dogs.

 

[PonsfordMagpie]

Giants always match up badly against the Dogs for some reason.

I'll give it another 4-6 games to see whether they can contend or not this year.

 

[Orange crush]

I agree with the premise, although they have been solidly hit by injuries to start the year. Green, Taylor, Kelly, Daniels, Cadman, Jones and Bedford would all have a claim for best 23 and were missing today. And for some reason they never show up against the Dogs.

This ... at full strength we still get rolled by 5 goals

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

Giants always match up badly against the Dogs for some reason.

I'll give it another 4-6 games to see where they can contend or not this year.

Agree with this.

Bit like Pies / Hawks. Doesn't matter where we sit of the ladder or our form, we seem to struggle against the Hawks.

And it doesn't matter as players come and go. That's what makes it perplexing. Both clubs can have 25 different players, yet the result is pretty much always the same.

 

[WesternSydneyHawk]

I agree with the premise, although they have been solidly hit by injuries to start the year. Green, Taylor, Kelly, Daniels, Cadman, Jones and Bedford would all have a claim for best 23 and were missing today. And for some reason they never show up against the Dogs.

I agree they'd be best 22.

The thing is the side that faced the Bulldogs today was basically the same one that faced Hawthorn a week ago. Including basically the same injury list.

And yet there was a night-and-day difference in the defensive pressure GWS applied and how disciplined they were setting up behind the ball.

And it was the same pattern last year too.

I don't think injuries fully explain why GWS looks like a million bucks one week, and then look sloppier than a roadhouse kitchen the next, with many of the same players out.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Too many inconsistent players. Stringer because the king.

 

[LeBronco]

Kingsley had a white hot start to his tenure his first 2 seasons were quite similar to Hinkley's first 2 seasons at Port Adelaide however recent times show the team may be plateauing under Kingsley and there are question marks as to whether or not Kingsley is the man to coach the inaugural Giants premiership. It's his 4th season so I'm not throwing the baby out with the bathwater just yet remember that Hardwick was in his 8th season when he won his first final at Richmond so I'd be keen to hear opinions on Kingsley and whether or not he'll achieve more or less than Leon Cameron

Leon Cameron

Age

53

Ht

185cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.2

4star

K

12.4

5star

HB

4.7

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.9

3star

No current season stats available

D

20.8

5star

K

14.4

5star

HB

6.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.8

3star

did during his coaching tenure.

 

[bzparkes]

Kingsley had a white hot start to his tenure his first 2 seasons were quite similar to Hinkley's first 2 seasons at Port Adelaide however recent times show the team may be plateauing under Kingsley and there are question marks as to whether or not Kingsley is the man to coach the inaugural Giants premiership. It's his 4th season so I'm not throwing the baby out with the bathwater just yet remember that Hardwick was in his 8th season when he won his first final at Richmond so I'd be keen to hear opinions on Kingsley and whether or not he'll achieve more or less than Leon Cameron did during his coaching tenure.

Getting smashed with injuries and despite being an expansion club, the AFL seems to want to shaft them.

Does need to tweak a few things though but as a coach, he's very solid.

 

[dergert]

He's a good coach.

Handful of clubs would prefer him over their current coaches imo.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Kingsley has coached us for 3 years and in all of the 3 years he has taken us into the finals. In fact last year, the team won 16 games - the equal most wins in our entire history (albeit playing 1 more game than during 2016). Whilst the loss to the Bulldogs was comprehensive, we have 8 players who would be in our starting 23 injured, and our worst head to head record is against the Bulldogs with us only winning just 1 of our last 10 games against them.

 

[Cmarsh]

What really needs review is our conditioning staff. Chronic problems.

 

[Colonial]

We literally won the most games in a season we ever had last year (tied with 2016). We have 8 starters out.

Not the time to judge him.

 

[demondavey]

Essendon and Carlton would take him in a heartbeat. I reckon they’ll be fine. Injuries at the moment but the guy can coach.

 

[Wraptor]

GWS need more concessions so the AFL can achieve their wet dream of having all four northern clubs playing finals in the same year.
Especially with the NRL being ahead of the AFL in TV ratings so far in 2026 if you measure by average, if you measure by reach then AFL is still in front.

 

[WesternSydneyHawk]

And here's yet another example.

Round two against St Kilda.

The Saints are coming off losses to Collingwood abd Melbourne. So not exactly the form side in the competition right now.

The GWS list is basically unchanged since the game against Hawthorn.

It's another muggy day in Western Sydney. The game's at Engie.

If the Giants were consistent, you'd think this would be an easy win, right?

 

[Shueygod]

And here's yet another example.

Round two against St Kilda.

The Saints are coming off losses to Collingwood abd Melbourne. So not exactly the form side in the competition right now.

The GWS list is basically unchanged since the game against Hawthorn.

It's another muggy day in Western Sydney. The game's at Engie.

If the Giants were consistent, you'd think this would be an easy win, right?

Maybe the Hawks just aren’t very good.

 

[Elixuh]

Never has a full list to choose from. Constantly injuries to their A graders.

 

[Anja_Nees]

He’s fine and deserves to survive a few down years if that’s what happens. No one expected three years of finals with two prelims when he took over.

 

[SA HAWK]

Maybe the Hawks just aren’t very good.

Our Rd 0 performance was poor and they were kicking goals out of their arse.

 

[Wraptor]

He’s fine and deserves to survive a few down years if that’s what happens. No one expected three years of finals with two prelims when he took over.

One preliminary final in 2023.
To be fair to Kingsley the Giants were a rabble when he arrived and he managed to turn the team around.

 

[SA HAWK]

One preliminary final in 2023.
To be fair to Kingsley the Giants were a rabble when he arrived and he managed to turn the team around.

Had a good list was just underperforming.

Always seem to have crucial players out injured.