Land of the Giants
Premiership Player
Well, it wasn’t exactly the thirty goals Damo was expecting, but thirty-six scoring shots showed our heart was in the right place.
Like a few others, I found myself getting frustrated more than anything else, probably due to expectations. Perhaps we’ve sub-consciously bought into the hype about being flag favourites which, according to the bookies, we are. At this stage of the season, we need to put a lid on it, like some of the more experienced clubs.
Round 2 sees us play lowly West Coast, a team at the opposite end of the spectrum. Pipped at the post by North for the wooden spoon in 2022, they swapped places last year. Only three wins. And we were their biggest scalp. Embarrassing. In fact, Optus Stadium was the only venue we didn’t win at.
This time, boys, that just won’t do. Here’s the likely line-up:
FB [36] Harry Perryman, [15] Sam Taylor, [39] Connor Idun
HB [6] Lachie Whitfield, [44] Jack Buckley, [7] Lachie Ash
C [10] Jacob Wehr, [22] Josh Kelly, [17] Finn Callaghan
HF [16] Brent Daniels, [26] Jake Riccardi, [14] Toby Bedford
FF [4] Toby Greene, [23] Jesse Hogan, [46] Callum M. Brown
FOL [32] Kieren Briggs, [3] Stephen Coniglio, [12] Tom Green
IC [5] Aaron Cadman, [27] Harry Himmelberg, [28] Harvey Thomas, [33] Xavier O'Halloran
SUB [19] Nick Haynes
In other words, no change. What could we do that would make a meaningful difference? We got through last night without any headline injuries. There’s no-one we’d like back who’s available in the short term. I know X made a few mistakes and got subbed, but he does bring a kind of muscular enthusiasm to the side. Kingsley wasn’t too harsh on him in the presser and I don’t think he’ll get dropped. The most important thing for what we want is a stable team and settled game plan.
Fun fact: Guess which Giant had the lowest disposal efficiency against North? By the proverbial country mile? It was none other than TFG! But even royalty is allowed an off day every now and then.
So, what can we expect on Sunday? Despite their troubles, the Eagles put up a respectable fight against Port and can still draw a crowd at home. After what happened last year, they’ll think they’re a chance if we fluff our lines.
3-0 would be a very handy start, Giants. We’d better not lose this.
Named teams:
WEST COAST EAGLES v GWS GIANTS
Sunday March 24, 6.50pm at Optus Stadium
EAGLES
B: C. Jamieson, T. Barrass, B. Hough
HB: J. Jones, J. McGovern, T. Cole
C: L. Duggan - C, H. Reid, R. Ginbey
HF: J. Cripps, J. Petruccelle, L. Edwards
F: N. Long, J. Waterman, T. Brockman
FOLL: B. Williams, E. Yeo, T. Kelly
I/C (FROM): A. Gaff, J. Hunt, C. Chesser, A. Witherden, J. Darling, R. Maric, T. Dewar
IN: J. Jones, H. Barnett, R. Maric, T. Dewar
OUT: O. Allen (Injured)
GIANTS
B: H. Perryman, S. Taylor, C. Idun
HB: L. Whitfield, J. Buckley, L. Ash
C: J. Wehr, J. Kelly, F. Callaghan
HF: B. Daniels, J. Riccardi, T. Bedford
F: T. Greene - C, J. Hogan, C. Brown
FOLL: K. Briggs, S. Coniglio, T. Green
I/C (FROM): X. O’Halloran, H. Thomas, H. Himmelberg, A. Cadman, R. Angwin, T. McMullin, L. Keeffe
IN: R. Angwin, J. Peatling, T. McMullin, L. Keeffe
OUT: N. Haynes (Personal Reason)
Like a few others, I found myself getting frustrated more than anything else, probably due to expectations. Perhaps we’ve sub-consciously bought into the hype about being flag favourites which, according to the bookies, we are. At this stage of the season, we need to put a lid on it, like some of the more experienced clubs.
Round 2 sees us play lowly West Coast, a team at the opposite end of the spectrum. Pipped at the post by North for the wooden spoon in 2022, they swapped places last year. Only three wins. And we were their biggest scalp. Embarrassing. In fact, Optus Stadium was the only venue we didn’t win at.
This time, boys, that just won’t do. Here’s the likely line-up:
FB [36] Harry Perryman, [15] Sam Taylor, [39] Connor Idun
HB [6] Lachie Whitfield, [44] Jack Buckley, [7] Lachie Ash
C [10] Jacob Wehr, [22] Josh Kelly, [17] Finn Callaghan
HF [16] Brent Daniels, [26] Jake Riccardi, [14] Toby Bedford
FF [4] Toby Greene, [23] Jesse Hogan, [46] Callum M. Brown
FOL [32] Kieren Briggs, [3] Stephen Coniglio, [12] Tom Green
IC [5] Aaron Cadman, [27] Harry Himmelberg, [28] Harvey Thomas, [33] Xavier O'Halloran
SUB [19] Nick Haynes
In other words, no change. What could we do that would make a meaningful difference? We got through last night without any headline injuries. There’s no-one we’d like back who’s available in the short term. I know X made a few mistakes and got subbed, but he does bring a kind of muscular enthusiasm to the side. Kingsley wasn’t too harsh on him in the presser and I don’t think he’ll get dropped. The most important thing for what we want is a stable team and settled game plan.
Fun fact: Guess which Giant had the lowest disposal efficiency against North? By the proverbial country mile? It was none other than TFG! But even royalty is allowed an off day every now and then.
So, what can we expect on Sunday? Despite their troubles, the Eagles put up a respectable fight against Port and can still draw a crowd at home. After what happened last year, they’ll think they’re a chance if we fluff our lines.
3-0 would be a very handy start, Giants. We’d better not lose this.
Named teams:
WEST COAST EAGLES v GWS GIANTS
Sunday March 24, 6.50pm at Optus Stadium
EAGLES
B: C. Jamieson, T. Barrass, B. Hough
HB: J. Jones, J. McGovern, T. Cole
C: L. Duggan - C, H. Reid, R. Ginbey
HF: J. Cripps, J. Petruccelle, L. Edwards
F: N. Long, J. Waterman, T. Brockman
FOLL: B. Williams, E. Yeo, T. Kelly
I/C (FROM): A. Gaff, J. Hunt, C. Chesser, A. Witherden, J. Darling, R. Maric, T. Dewar
IN: J. Jones, H. Barnett, R. Maric, T. Dewar
OUT: O. Allen (Injured)
GIANTS
B: H. Perryman, S. Taylor, C. Idun
HB: L. Whitfield, J. Buckley, L. Ash
C: J. Wehr, J. Kelly, F. Callaghan
HF: B. Daniels, J. Riccardi, T. Bedford
F: T. Greene - C, J. Hogan, C. Brown
FOLL: K. Briggs, S. Coniglio, T. Green
I/C (FROM): X. O’Halloran, H. Thomas, H. Himmelberg, A. Cadman, R. Angwin, T. McMullin, L. Keeffe
IN: R. Angwin, J. Peatling, T. McMullin, L. Keeffe
OUT: N. Haynes (Personal Reason)
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