AFL round 7: Lachlan McKirdy analyses GWS Giants vs Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs have claimed a statement victory over GWS — with the win set up by some key tactical moves from the coaches’ box exposing a big weakness of the Giants.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Giants’ most obvious weakness in 2025 has proved their Achilles heel yet again after being dismantled in the second half of their 32-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in Canberra.
At their strongest, the orange tsunami is fast, lethal and potent. And while there were signs of their dominance early, some small tweaks from Luke Beveridge’s side at quarter-time completely nullified GWS in the nation’s capital.
When watching the Giants at their enchanting best, it’s almost better to look at who doesn’t have the ball. The beauty of their system is their launch off halfback, masterminded by Lachies Ash and Whitfield who essentially play like an NFL quarterback.
They constantly run, rap behind their teammates and look sideways or up the wing to get the ball out of their defensive 50. If they’re running the show, and it’s working, there’s not much teams can do to stop the speed of their transition.
The moment Connor Idun, Sam Taylor or Jack Buckley brought the ball to ground in the first quarter, the quarterbacks mopped up the ball and aimed straight for the flanks.
Whether it was Darcy Jones or even Jesse Hogan pushing further up the ground, they had more time to set up their structures because the ball wasn’t going straight back into their defensive 50.
Hogan’s return also filled a hole further up the ground, giving room for the likes of Jake Riccardi and Jake Stringer to find the space they so desperately lacked in his absence. Riccardi was the early beneficiary, kicking two first-quarter goals to give the Giants the quarter-time lead.
While it was clear Adam Kingsley’s side had an edge with speed, it was precise movements and a slow, kick-mark game that gave them their early advantage. And as soon as the Bulldogs identified that, it was game over.
Although the Giants’ structure can be their biggest strength, because it’s their one wood in attack, it can often be their undoing.
Beveridge made some key tactical changes in the second quarter that stymied the Giants’ momentum. Rory Lobb moved forward and gave them more height ahead of the ball, with an instruction given to kick long to the contest.
That chaos ball proved productive as the Dogs trusted their advantage at the stoppage and kicked three-straight goals to open up a 13-point lead.
Where the Giants looked panicked with Kieren Briggs struggling against Tim English in the ruck, the Dogs could rely on Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore and Ed Richards to use the ball efficiently. Hogan and Toby Bedford kicked a couple of goals to bring the Giants back level, but a late major to English gave the visitors a deserved half-time lead after their strong contest work.
Once they had the momentum, and the blueprint to unlock the Giants, the Dogs turned it on in the third quarter. They kicked five unanswered goals, had 25 points from turnovers in the third term alone and opened up a 37-point lead by the last break.
Even though Bontempelli and co. were completely dominant around the contest, it was the same issues that had plagued the Giants all season. The quarterbacks weren’t given any space to work, their uncontested marks dried up, and they looked devoid of ideas on the rare occasion it got forward.
And as good as the Giants’ backline is, there’s only so much they can do when the ball comes into their defensive 50 so regularly. Eventually, the dam wall will break, and unfortunately, it’s happened too many times this season.
Kingsley will be left to rue the obvious problem exposing them again, but they were so poorly beaten in other facets of the game. The Dogs are the No.1 clearance team in the competition and had free rein through the middle. The Giants pride themselves on their pressure, but just couldn’t apply it at a consistent level.
In a sign of just how comfortable Beveridge’s side was by the final term, Bontempelli was put on ice, and they continued to pile on the points.
The Dogs had won seven of their past eight matches against the Giants going into the clash. But on Saturday night, they had a victory easier than all of them combined, and GWS will have another week ahead of them trying to fix the issue that has plagued them all season.
MATCH REPORT: DOGS DOWN GIANTS
A clinical Western Bulldogs has surged into the top eight after dismantling GWS in the nation’s capital.
The Bulldogs started slow, but adjustments on the run proved the difference, highlighted in a third quarter that saw them rip the game away from the Giants.
They scored the only five goals in the term while restricting GWS’ high-powered attack to just a solitary behind on-route to their fourth win of the season.
Marcus Bontempelli was at his brilliant best with 22 disposals, eight clearances and a game-high four goal assists as he earned a well-deserved early mark when he was subbed out early in the fourth.
Rory Lobb started in defence but moved forward and kicked two goals, with nice cameos from James Harmes and Joel Friejah proving the difference in the 17.11 (113) to 12.9 (81) victory that will mount a further case for a Luke Beveridge contract extension.
It’s the first time the Giants have conceded a century since last year’s semi-final loss to Brisbane and their highest tally conceded for over a year.
Beveridge admitted they gambled after being starved of possession in the opening term, and it was one that paid off.
“We were a bit rattled early,” he said.
“We needed to take a calculated risk and make sure we had more presence forward of the ball, which is why Rory went there.
“We knew that would mean in our back end with the inexperience in our key back positions we were going to be a bit vulnerable.
“But I thought the boys fought it out well in the middle parts of the game.”
Giants coach Adam Kingsley said it was a tough lesson for his team, with them unable to match the hunger of the Bulldogs.
“I felt like they outnumbered us at the contest and were able to win the ball far better than us,” Kingsley said.
“We didn’t play with the same level of enthusiasm. We went back into our shell under a bit of pressure and failed to take on the game anywhere near as well as what we had been doing.
“We’ll learn our lessons, but we need to learn them quickly.”
OUT OF CHARACTER
It’s not often Toby Greene misses an open goal.
But with the two sides level and time winding down in the second term, the Giants captain opted for a chip on the run when the safe option looked to be a grubber.
He hit the post, and the Bulldogs were able to go down the other end and kick a goal that gave them a five-point margin heading into the second half.
The Bulldogs went on to kick nine of the next 10 goals and Kingsley said a poor third term was to blame.
“The reality was they won the ball. We didn’t tackle, we didn’t win the ball ourselves and they scored far too easily,” he said.
“That’s in its simplest form.
“They’re an outstanding stoppage team. We failed to cope with that at all, which was incredibly disappointing and that certainly showed in the third quarter, but it was really a whole-game issue to be fair.”
CAUSING NO HARMES
While some struggled with the dewy conditions in Canberra, the clean hands of Harmes saw him bob up on more than one occasion.
He was constantly in the right place at the right time to boot three majors in the first half, sparking the Bulldogs for a six-goal second quarter.
It helped them overcome a frustrating start to the contest where the Giants were able to control possession at will.
James Harmes kicks an absolute ripper 🤩#AFLGiantsDogspic.twitter.com/Pgkwk1KjdL
— AFL (@AFL) April 26, 2025
For good measure his fourth, equalling his career best tally, gave the Bulldogs an 18-point buffer early in the third.
“We scooped up loose balls, we kicked goals from the goal square or just outside it,” Beveridge said.
“We shared the ball around and got some snaps. Obviously Harmesy as a midfield-type, a little bit forward but mostly through the wings, to kick four goals.
“We had 13 scorers and that’s the way we’re going to need to do it.”
HAPPY HUNTING GROUND
Canberra is meant to be the home away from home for GWS.
But it’s the Bulldogs who have shown they have no issues with a trip to the nation’s capital.
Coming into the contest the Bulldogs enjoyed a strong 9-4 record at Manuka Oval, including five wins from seven games against the Giants.
They looked right at home, kicking their eighth total of 100+ in 14 games at the venue.
SCOREBOARD
GWS 3.3 7.6 7.7 12.9 (81)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.3 8.5 13.8 17.11 (113)
BEST
Giants: Jake Riccardi, Lachie Ash, Josh Kelly, Darcy Jones
Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli, James Harmes, Matt Kennedy, Joel Freijah, Tom Liberatore, Ed Richards
GOALS
Giants: Jake Riccardi 3, Toby Greene 2, Toby Bedford 2, Jesse Hogan 2, Tom Green, Harvey Thomas, Aaron Cadman
Bulldogs: James Harmes 4, Rhylee West 3, Matt Kennedy 2, Rory Lobb 2, Jason Johannisen, Tim English, Ed Richards, Buku Khamis, Aaron Naughton, Sam Davidson
INJURIES: N/A
SEAN TEUMA’S BEST
3: Marcus Bontempelli (WBD)
2: James Harmes (WBD)
1: Joel Freijah (WBD)
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL round 7: Lachlan McKirdy analyses GWS Giants vs Western Bulldogs
Stars make public attack on AFL over ban
Two senior Kangaroos players have slammed the AFL after the Tribunal upheld a harsh suspension for one of their teammates.
Ugle-Hagan’s Bulldogs future officially in doubt after taking leave
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan may have played his last game for the Bulldogs after taking a personal leave of absence from the club, but is it a distraction eliminated for Luke Beveridge’s side?