AFL round 19: GWS Giants move closer to finals, leaving Gold Coast winless away from home in 2024

In a season as tight as this, the Giants rounding into form looms as a threat over the competition, as the woes of the Suns away from home continued in the latest Expansion Cup game.

The Orange Tsunami once again reigned in the Expansion Cup. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

In a season where consistency and form have been thrown out the window, the Giants’ third-straight win felt like a significant moment as the race for September heats up.

They might not have been at their best against the Suns, and the visitors’ woes away from home certainly continued, but the touches of class and flashes of orange tsunami brilliance from Adam Kingsley’s side have them poised for a big back-half of the season.

The victory over Gold Coast pushed them back into the top four pending results and ensured they’re well and truly in the premiership race.

Coming into the round, the Giants had the best pressure factor differential in the competition and it proved to be an important factor in their early scoreboard dominance.

The Giants enjoy a Toby Greene goal during their ‘Expansion Cup’ victory. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Suns registered the first six inside-50s of the game but failed to capitalise with some shocking attempts on goal in blustery conditions. GWS made them pay with ruthless efficiency, as the milestone-man Brent Daniels kicked the opening goal of the game with the Giants’ first inside 50 of the match.

Gold Coast dominated territory throughout the first half but looked weighed down by the expectation of searching for their first win away from home. Ben King, one of the top Coleman Medal contenders, had the genuine yips and his teammates weren’t much better as they wasted countless good looks at goal.

The Giants were -12 for inside 50s and -9 for clearances at the main break, but the scoreboard painted a completely different story. And yet again, it was the usual suspects.

Jesse Hogan’s hands proved decisive as he kicked truly at every opportunity. The small forwards got in on the act as Daniels got his second and Harvey Thomas took a strong mark in front of goal. While their skipper turned the Suns’ defenders inside out to slot a goal that only Toby Greene can.

Jesse Hogan was prominent throughout. Picture: Phil Hillyard

They only led by 16 points at half time, but it felt decisive that despite their ascendancy the Suns never looked like taking the lead.

Lachie Whitfield was quarterbacking to great effect off halfback as the Giants’ handball game cut Gold Coast open. Kingsley was adamant that in the second half, he wanted his midfield to play with more trust and it proved the case as they were able to unlock their best transition play.

Greene kicked a second goal-of-the-round contender over his head, while Hogan’s third of the day extended the lead to 28 points. The Suns were in the contest in most facets, but some of their choices with the ball in hand looked like a team devoid of ideas and confidence.

King had a chance to cut the margin right before the final break, but his set-shot struggles summed up Gold Coast’s day as they went into the final quarter with just four goals to their name and an astounding 11 behinds.

Welcome to Toby Greene's candy shop 🍬#AFLGiantsSunspic.twitter.com/nEy6d4M5ne

— AFL (@AFL) July 20, 2024

It completely contrasted the Giants’ accuracy in front of goal. They opened up a 46-point lead in the final term as Jake Riccardi, Toby McMullin and Aaron Cadman all added to the Suns’ pain. Hogan also grabbed his fourth as he joined Charlie Curnow at the top of the goal-kicking charts.

But it was GWS’ repeated efforts around the ground that rammed home the gulf in class between the two teams. Jack Buckley’s incredible chase-down tackle in the middle of the ground typified that best, as the key defender regularly neutralised Gold Coast’s most dangerous passages of play.

While they still have some big names to return, such as Sam Taylor, Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio, the Giants feel perfectly balanced heading towards finals. Youngsters like Thomas, Darcy Jones and Joe Fonti all look completely comfortable playing at AFL level and regularly provide the important spark when they’re going forward.

And on Saturday afternoon, they gave further weight to Damien Hardwick’s frustrations, stretching the Suns’ winless streak on the road to 16 matches. It was also a first-hand look at just how much work Gold Coast has got to do if they want to be a regular top-eight side.

“I keep saying to our players this season there’s been one side in Sydney who’s been a class above, but everyone else is toing and froing,” he said.

“It’s just playing your best footy at the right time. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience that sort of run of what that looks like.

“I’m hoping our guys can get a greater understanding of what that looks like and feels like.

“Our dream is certainly alive and I want that dream to be alive for our fans. We’ll be pushing as hard as we can for as long as we can.”

Lachie Weller slots one in his first game in over a year 🙌#AFLGiantsSunspic.twitter.com/FrwTQqDSrT

— AFL (@AFL) July 20, 2024

Gold Coast’s winless season away from home will likely cost the club its first finals berth. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

SCOREBOARD

GWS 5.0 8.1 10.3 14.5 (89)

GOLD COAST 2.4 4.9 4.11 6.14 (50)

GOALS

Giants: Jesse Hogan 4, Brent Daniels 2, Toby Greene 2, Darcy Jones, Harvey Thomas, Harry Perryman, Jake Riccardi, Toby McMullin, Aaron Cadman

Suns: Jack Lukosius 2, Ben Long, Lachie Weller, Alex Sexton, Bailey Humphrey

BEST

Giants: Toby Bedford, Tom Green, Jesse Hogan, Lachie Whitfield, Brent Daniels, Darcy Jones

Suns: Sam Flanders, David Swallow, Ned Moyle, Nick Holman

INJURIES

Giants: Isaac Cumming (hamstring)

Suns:

CROWD: 8013 at ENGIE Stadium

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Sean Teuma’s votes

3 – Lachie Whitfield (GWS)

2 – Sam Flanders (GC)

1 – Jesse Hogan (GWS)

Originally published as AFL round 19: GWS Giants move closer to finals, leaving Gold Coast winless away from home in 2024