Track watch: Jake Stringer impresses as Sam Taylor and Tom Green exit match sim early

Jake Stringer looked incredibly strong in his biggest hitout for GWS to date, but two other Giants exited Friday’s match simulation early.

Jake Stringer has continued to impress at the Giants after featuring strongly in the club’s intense pre-season match simulation on Friday morning, but GWS will be nervously waiting on updates for two of their stars who were forced from the field.

Key defender Sam Taylor had to be assisted from the ground during the third term of the six-section match following a heavy collision that also involved Jesse Hogan and Aaron Cadman.

Taylor attempted to spoil a marking contest but ended up hitting the ground hard with his head also colliding with the turf. The 25-year-old remained on the ground for a few seconds before getting to his feet.

He took no further part in the game with the Giants confirming that he will likely fall under concussion protocols but that diagnosis would only happen after a complete assessment with a doctor.

Taylor was left on the ground after what appeared to be a heavy knock in a marking contest. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The key defender was helped from the ground and took no further part in the match. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Taylor suffered a serious concussion against St Kilda last year that kept him out for three weeks. However, this incident was nowhere near as severe. The club will likely be cautious with his recovery, meaning he may not play in either of their two practice matches before they take on Collingwood on March 9.

Tom Green is another player who had to come off early as he deals with a corked calf. He came from the ground early in the match with the Giants managing the star midfielder ahead of the season. Green suggested earlier in the week on the club’s podcast that it’s an issue he and the club have been conservative with this year, and it shouldn’t be a long-term problem.

Tom Green left the game early with precaution for a calf strain. Picture: Phil Hillyard

For the first time, we got a glimpse of a full-strength Giants forward line as they played against first-choice Giants defence for the majority of the match.

Jesse Hogan and Aaron Cadman led the line, with Stringer, Toby Greene, Darcy Jones and Brent Daniels all providing plenty of support. They were opposed against Taylor, Jack Buckley, Connor Idun, Harry Himmelberg, Lachie Whitfield and Lachie Ash. Conor Stone also played in the main defensive group as the seventh man, in a role similar to what Harry Perryman has held in recent years.

The Giants’ full-strength forward line got in on the action, with plenty of goals shared between them. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Jones and Stringer both got in the goals early on the back of some nice forward pressure and ball movement. Cadman converted an outside-of-the-foot banana kick while Hogan had two majors to his name before the first break.

There were plenty of goals down the other end of the ground with Lachie Keeffe and Jake Riccardi both getting multiple to their name. The two talls are pushing to be the Giants’ third-tall/backup ruck option, with Riccardi particularly impressive, even though he’ll only be eligible for selection from round two.

In the ruck, Kieren Briggs was particularly dominant early in his match-up against Nick Madden. Many around the Giants have suggested that Briggs is in the best shape of his career following an aggressive pre-season where he worked on his body. That early work looks like it has paid off as he won plenty of his own clearances and found his teammates regularly with steady taps.

Stephen Coniglio was not involved in the match as he still manages his injury return, while Callum Brown, Ryan Angwin (angle) and Josh Fahey (foot) were the other non-participants.

It was six bruising quarters from the Giants who have their first pre-season match against the Swans next Friday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

GOALS:

Team White: Jesse Hogan 3, Darcy Jones 3, Aaron Cadman 2, Jake Stringer, Toby Greene

Team Orange: Lachlan Keeffe 3, Harvey Thomas 2, Ollie Hannaford 2, Jake Riccardi 2, Nathan Wardius 2, Lachie Ash, Marc Sheather, James Lugsdin

DEFENSIVE LINE

Adam Kingsley has previously hinted that the same back six will remain for the Giants given their strength. But Conor Stone is certainly one of the early winners having been given the inside running to replace Perryman in his defensive role.

Stone had an assured performance playing off halfback, finding targets and even taking some kick-ins. He used the ball well and looked comfortable in the position.

His biggest threat appears to be Jacob Wehr, with the pair switching sides later in the game. Wehr has transitioned back into defence and with elite kicking could become another key part of the way they transition forward.

Wehr has impressed since move back into the defensive set-up. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Leek Aleer also had some strong moments in the reserves side, and may get some early opportunities depending on the severity of Taylor’s knock. Aleer was running strongly, read the flight of the ball well and looks to have improved his ball-use over the past few months.

Whitfield and Ash are set to be the barometers for the way the Giants attack again given how prolific they were off halfback on Friday. But with players like Joe Fonti also in the wings, GWS have plenty of depth in the position.

MIDFIELD ROTATIONS

Kingsley also provided a glimpse of a potential first-choice midfield for the Giants, barring Coniglio. As Briggs prepared for the first centre bounce, he had Green, Josh Kelly and Finn Callaghan waiting alongside him in the centre circle.

That has the potential to be a damaging quartet with Callaghan in particular having a strong game with both his running and ability to win contested ball.

They were opposed by James Leake, Toby Bedford and Harry Rowston who also impressed with their strength around the contest. Rowston also looks incredibly composed when he has the ball in his hands, starting several chains that ended up in nice goals.

Rowston continues to be a stand out around the stoppages and at centre bounces. Picture: Phil Hillyard

But the key weapon for the Giants in midfield will be their ability to rotate stars through the centre bounces. Stringer, Greene, Daniels and Jones all spent time there at various stages as they looked to burst out of the stoppage and start dynamic attacks.

FORWARD PRESSURE

The orange tsunami was in action regularly on Friday morning with some nice passages of play that started from hard-running off halfback.

However, the forward pressure looked to have been turned up again this off-season with players laying some heavy tackles inside their forward 50.

Rookie talent Nathan Wardius is one to look out for, proving a nuisance with his pressure and getting on the end of a couple of goals. Toby McMullin also looked dangerous when he pushed further up the ground and was very clean by hand.

Cadman and Jones both produced several massive tackles, while Harvey Thomas stood out for his ability to find pockets of space and create good scoring opportunities.

Jones kicks a goal on the run. Picture: Phil Hillyard

STANDOUTS

JOSAIA DELANA

The Cat B rookie was a name on the lips of many following Friday’s hit out, as the local product won plenty of ball and impressed with the way he used it. While there weren’t official stats for the game, most observers felt he would have topped the possessions count and he looked incredibly composed when he had it. Will be fascinating to watch his development and see if he can force his way into an AFL debut.

DARCY JONES

Jones was as lively as ever around the forward line, combining well with the likes of Stringer and Daniels to create space and scoring opportunities. But it was great to see him add another string to his bow and drop further back into midfield to see if he could inject his pace into the game.

Well after the match had finished, Hogan was one of the last on the track going through extra goal-kicking practice. Picture: Phil Hillyard

LACHIE WHITFIELD

The All-Australian rebounding defender has picked up where he left off, showing some really good pace off halfback and as ever, used the ball incredibly well. He linked up with his teammates well and even kept up with the likes of Jones and Fonti who are known for their fleet of foot.

JESSE HOGAN

The Coleman Medallist is determined to improve yet again and it was on show on Friday. He finished the day with three goals, but even when he missed an opportunity, he would demand a spare ball to go back and convert from the same spot when he had a chance. He was also the last man out on the track in the pouring rain working on his set shots.

Originally published as Track watch: Jake Stringer impresses as Sam Taylor and Tom Green exit match sim early