Pressure of expectation: GWS Giants hunting for their best ever ladder position as the orange tsunami slowly builds in 2024

In 2023, the Giants stormed into finals on a seven-game winning streak – the same streak they’re on now. Here’s why the rest of the competition should be more worried about them this year.

They might not be firing on all cylinders like they were in their 2023 run home, but the Giants are confident their “finals-like” preparation has them well placed to push for this year’s premiership and their highest finish to an AFL season.

GWS has produced another seven-game winning streak in the back half of the season to propel themselves into contention.

Unlike last year where they rode the momentum through to a preliminary final, this season feels more like they are living up to expectations. There’s a sense of maturity in how they approach games, and they’re confident that no matter the situation they find themselves in, they can get the job done.

The Giants know they still have work to do despite their seven-game winning streak. Picture: Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Two months ago, the Giants had fallen out of the eight. Given their difficult run home, many pundits wrote them off. They’ve proven before that’s exactly the position they like to be in, according to midfielder Tom Green.

“We looked at it and we knew it was going to be tough,” he said.

“But we also looked at it as a great opportunity and I personally don’t think there’s any better preparation for finals.

“We’re playing against finals quality opposition for what is it, maybe six weeks in a row now. It’s been a great run, we’ve still got another game against another finals team but I think it’s giving us the greatest preparation for finals we could possibly hope for.

“And we had a bit of a mantra last year of why not us, and we looked at our run home and had a similar view. Why not us?”

If GWS can be more clinical with their forward movement, they will go a long way in 2024. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The concerning fact for opposition teams is that the Giants have gone on this streak without getting close to replicating the orange tsunami. Their points from turnovers are well down, while time in forward half and forward half intercepts both rank in the bottom five in the AFL.

But they’ve been able to rely on their pressure and tenacity. They’re currently the number one pressure team in the competition. They finished with 21 more tackles than Fremantle last weekend, and they currently have the most tackles in the AFL going into the final round.

History shows that not enough, but it’s certainly proved a good starting point.

“If we want to be a fair dinkum team, then we win these games and we’re in a pretty good spot,” Brent Daniels said. “We’re still not playing our best footy, but we’re getting the job done. And we’re building.

“Guys like Josh Kelly and Cogs (Stephen Coniglio) have missed a lot of footy, and they’ll be better for the run as well. When they get up and going it’s going to be pretty scary.”

“I think we’ve got more to give, particularly offensively,” Adam Kingsley added. “We can move the ball a little better and I think we can tighten the screws a bit defensively.

“I don’t think we’re playing at our absolute best but still managing to get the job done each week. So that’s really nice. It’s probably how it feels different (to 2023).”

Jesse Hogan’s efficiency in front of goal on the way to his first Coleman Medal has played a big part in the Giants’ rise up the ladder. Picture: Phil Hillyard

While a spot in the eight is already locked in, the Giants have the chance to record their best-ever finish to a season.

In 2016 and 2017, GWS finished in fourth to lock up a qualifying final spot. But a win over the Bulldogs on Sunday will guarantee at least third place. If results go their way, mainly Port Adelaide losing to Fremantle in the West, they could finish second.

It would be an amazing achievement for a club still in its infancy. And although Green was happy to give out smoke wherever anyone wanted it in 2023, he knows how big an advantage it would be.

“Second would be the Giants’ highest-ever finish to a regular season,” he said. “To give us the potential to not have to leave Sydney until grand final day would be massive.

“Our job is not done. Next week is so important for us and we really want that second position. We want to play in Sydney, play in front of our home fans and give us some reward until grand final day, hopefully.”

Originally published as Pressure of expectation: GWS Giants hunting for their best ever ladder position as the orange tsunami slowly builds in 2024