AFL Round 5: All the news from GWS vs. St Kilda at Gather Round

Toby Greene and the Giants put the pedal to the metal in the third term to wipe the Saints off the map at Norwood Oval to continue their hot start to the season.

Toby Greene kicked five against the Saints. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

A Toby Greene masterclass has inspired GWS to its fourth win of the season as the Giants used a dominant eight to three goal third term to overrun St Kilda at Norwood Oval.

The electric Giants captain produced his best ever output against the Saints in his career with five goals as his side opened up a 50-point three-quarter-lead and held on to win the Gather Round clash 16.14 (110) to 12.10 (82).

St Kilda had no answer in the third term – the Giants’ most productive quarter of the year – as Greene, who also finished the game with 17 disposals and six marks, booted three goals and created a number of others.

The Saints launched a mini comeback in the fourth through strong centre clearance work as Jack Sinclair, an inspired Wanganeen-Milera (three majors) and Jack Higgins (two) all hit the scoreboard to cut the lead to 28 points but it would not be enough to overcome the huge three-quarter-time deficit as the Giants saw out the victory despite being held goalless for the quarter, kicking five behinds.

The clash was tightly contested through the first term and GWS only held a two-point lead at the quarter-time break but the Giants would soon find ascendancy in the contest through the tough and clean play of Greene, Josh Kelly, Tom Green (eight clearances) and Lachie Whitfield.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera kicked a career-best three goals. Picture: Maya Thompson/AFL Photos/Getty Images.

Key defender Sam Taylor was also a typical standout, cutting off a number of St Kilda forward 50 entries, while explosive back flanker Lachie Ash (33 disposals) produced his best performance of the season, damaging St Kilda with his run and ball-use.

The loss is St Kilda’s first since its round one clash with Adelaide at Adelaide Oval and the Saints now find themselves sitting outside the eight in ninth.

Rowan Marshall’s fitness may be up in the air heading into the club’s Easter Sunday clash with the Western Bulldogs despite finishing the game against the Giants, the star ruck struggling with a niggling calf throughout the day and receiving attention in the rooms during the third quarter.

SAINTS RUE SECOND TERM MISHAPS

The Saints would not look back too fondly on a series of errors which prevented them from cutting into the Giants lead in the second quarter.

A wayward Zak Jones handball in the back 50 which led to a Toby Greene goal would open a sloppy term for St Kilda, with both Mason Wood and Jack Steele also both inexplicably turning the ball over inside 50 instead of going back for set-shots.

Cooper Sharman would produce his side’s only goal in the second as GWS opened up a 20-point lead.

Jesse Hogan gets a HUGE sit 🛫#AFLSaintsGiantspic.twitter.com/vrEBTMgK7r

— AFL (@AFL) April 13, 2025

JESSE’S SPECKY A CATALYST

Gun GWS key forward Jesse Hogan produced a moment of brilliance for his side at the 27-minute mark of the opening term, leaping for a huge mark inside the forward 50 to give his side the lead.

Defenders were left in Hogan’s wake as he skied for the grab and calmly slotted home his first goal to give the Giants the lead at the end of the term, one they would never relinquish.

Toby Greene kicked five against the Saints. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

GREENE’S MOMENTS OF MAGIC

Superstar GWS captain Toby Greene turned his game up a notch in the third quarter to all but seal the impressive victory for the Giants.

First, in the early stages of the term, Greene exploded from stoppage to burn Zak Jones for pace and finish an impressive goal on the run to put the Giants up by 26 points.

Three for the quarter, FIVE for the day for Toby 🔥#AFLSaintsGiantspic.twitter.com/2AxaqyeHhi

— AFL (@AFL) April 13, 2025

Then at the 18-minute mark, he swooped through a contest inside 50 and showed his agility to avoid two tacklers and finish with class on his left to extend the lead to 38.

Originally published as AFL Round 5: All the news from GWS vs. St Kilda at Gather Round