GWS v Carlton: All the news, intel and key takeaways from AAMI Community Series pre-season match

Days after losing its prized No. 3 draftee Jagga Smith for the season, another rising star gave Carlton fans reason to smile — and left Michael Voss with a lot to ponder ahead of round 1.

• SuperCoach points: Every pre-season score

Blues fans will be eager for their AFL season to get underway as they produced a dominant display to down fellow premiership contenders, the GWS Giants, in Canberra by 58 points.

Carlton’s midfield set the tempo early, winning the first nine clearances – even without Sam Walsh – on their way to kicking the first five goals of the game.

Tom De Koning was dominant in the ruck against Lachie Keeffe, who took the primary role for the Giants with Kieren Briggs absent through illness. The Blues were more lethal in transition, made their tackles stick and looked dangerous every time they got the ball into their forward 50.

“It’s good progression for us,” Carlton coach Michael Voss said.

“We really wanted to see where we’re at and get good feedback against a quality team.

“We thought defensively we were quite strong and held up well. Where the game’s won and lost in the midfield, we were quite dominant in there and able to get our front half game going, which was pleasing.

“(It was) good for Frankie. We focused heavily on his defence and the reward was his goal. But the pleasing part is we had nine players under 50 games, so that’s good for our supporters to see.

“Lucas Camporeale was one on the wing that we liked. He’s getting to work, he’s improving in that position. And he was one of a number who we liked.

“We’ll still keep injecting the youth, but overall, we thought our leaders performed quite strongly and put us in a really good position.”

George Hewett celebrates a Carlton goal with Elijah Hollands and Orazio Fantasia.

On the other side of the field, Adam Kingsley would have been concerned that his first-choice defence couldn’t restrict a Carlton attack missing Charlie Curnow. Harry McKay kicked two early goals, while some sloppy efforts led to goals for Brodie Kemp and Adam Saad in the second term.

The trend continued for most of the second-half with the Giants unable to find any joy in transition. While Lachie Whitfield and Lachie Ash both saw plenty of the ball off halfback, they were inefficient on their inside-50 entries and looked like they desperately missed Harry Perryman’s link-up play.

“It’s not the be-all and end-all,” GWS assistant coach Brett Montgomery said.

“The pre-season is an opportunity to try and re-establish our game…the foundation of our game is trying to get the orange tsunami going as early as we can.

“I think we fell a lot short of that tonight, but we didn’t give ourselves a chance the way we started. A nine-goal loss, not ideal.

“We saw glimpses, but we’re more than a glimpses team, but tonight we were just glimpses.

“We didn’t go in with a recognised ruckman, which made it a little bit difficult. But it was intent, it was attitude and effort early, and they were really sharp. So, credit to them, we looked flat.”

Jack Silvagni climbs high to mark in his new defensive role.

POSITIONAL CHANGES

Jack Silvagni’s move into defence was a big positive for the Blues on Friday night as the 27-year-old looked composed against some of the Giants’ best forwards. He produced several big stops on Aaron Cadman and looks set to take more responsibility in the backline.

Silvagni could also be required to take on bigger roles in the opening weeks of the year, depending on the severity of an ankle injury that saw Mitch McGovern come from the ground just before half time.

Brodie Kemp played forward late in 2024, and he looked assured in the position again in Canberra. He finished with multiple goals and a spectacular mark in the fourth quarter, a great result against a strong GWS defence.

For the Giants, Darcy Jones occasionally dropped deeper to pick up more of the ball, while James Leake spent plenty of time around the centre bounces. After their slow start, GWS also looked better in midfield once Toby Greene was moved around into the stoppages.

Lucas Camporeale on the move.

ROOKIE WATCH

Lucas Camporeale was the name on everyone’s lips at Manuka Oval as the young Blue with incredible pedigree played his way into contention for a round one debut.

The teenager led Carlton with 10 disposals in the first quarter playing on the wing and looked at home running across the midfield. He finished the game with 20 disposals and certainly would have impressed Michael Voss.

Cooper Lord was also a standout, as the teenager looks to add to his two games from last season.

It was Leake who impressed the most for the Giants. He had a team-high six clearances for the game as he was deployed through the midfield and will also be close to debuting against Collingwood in opening round.

Cody Angove was saved until the third quarter but had some really strong touches, while Ollie Hannaford’s pressure game was strong on the half-forward line.

x

The Blues move it quickly through the middle and Fantasia has a second.#AFLGiantsBluespic.twitter.com/HSrcjWN73a

— AFL (@AFL) February 28, 2025

NEW RECRUITS

Nick Haynes is certainly relishing life at Carlton as he turned in a strong performance against his former side.

The key defender turned back the clock, reading the flight of the ball well and taking several important intercept marks. He also racked up the disposals, finishing with a team-high 21 disposals for the match.

Francis Evans only had the five touches as he looks to force his way into contention early in the season, but a nice goal late would have got Voss’s attention.

Elijah Hollands is ready for season two as a Blue 💪#AFLGiantsBluespic.twitter.com/CianyA32Hs

— AFL (@AFL) February 28, 2025

SURPRISE ROLE

With no Tom Green for the start of the season, the Giants spent plenty of time rotating through options around the stoppages.

Finn Callaghan got off the chains at stages and ran strongly through the centre of the field, while Josh Kelly also had some nice moments. But while Stephen Coniglio returned on Friday night, it looks set to be a rotation of some of their smaller forwards who could prove most damaging.

Toby Bedford has almost been deployed as an out-and-out midfielder and played a tagging role on Patrick Cripps for much of the night. Greene and Brent Daniels also had some nice moments when they had opportunities.

But James Leake is the player who probably put his hand up the most for an opening-round selection to have a role around the stoppages.

It's Brodie Kemp's turn to fly!

He's kicked three 👏#AFLGiantsBluespic.twitter.com/33s25qDUq8

— AFL (@AFL) February 28, 2025

HOT TAKE

As good as the Giants’ defence is, they looked a shell of their former selves without Perryman there to help them transition. On countless occasions, they had to turn back on themselves to try and find an option, and the repeat entries that Carlton generated made it nearly impossible to defend.

If they can’t find that conduit to help get the ball to their star-studded forward line, it could be a long year, and not many waves, for the orange tsunami. And as much as it’s only pre-season, back-to-back 50+ point losses are the last thing a team needs.

For the Blues, their midfield has started the year at an elite level, with Cripps and Adam Cerra tearing up the stoppages against the Giants. De Koning continues to add dollars to his value every time he plays, while they’ll only get better when Walsh returns.

Clearly, the concern for Carlton is producing a consistent level all the way through to September, but at its best, there might not be a better midfield in the competition.

Originally published as GWS v Carlton: All the news, intel and key takeaways from AAMI Community Series pre-season match