Phil Davis says Giants embarrassed as Jimmy Bartel labels loss to Hawks the worst in club history

GWS Giants captain Phil Davis admits players are “embarrassed” by the woeful performance against Hawthorn, which board director Jimmy Bartel has labelled the worst in the club’s history.

GWS Giants captain Phil Davis admits players are “embarrassed” by the woeful performance against Hawthorn, which board director Jimmy Bartel has labelled the worst in the club’s history.

Davis refused to be drawn into ranking the Giants’ most unacceptable losses, but Bartel was scathing about it being the worst ever, even considering GWS spent its fledgling years anchored to the bottom of the table.

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Bartel made the extraordinary admission he would look to have his say to relevant people in the football department this week in reaction to the chastening defeat, a highly unusual move for a board member, albeit one who is a recently retired premiership-winning player.

The Geelong great told the AFL’s ­Access All Areas that Giants players “should be embarrassed”.

Davis showcased his strength as captain by fronting up on behalf of the team and declaring that the playing group was indeed embarrassed.

“I think definitely there’s an element of embarrassment. We had that against Fremantle as well and West Coast (the Giants’ other two losses this year),” Davis told The Daily Telegraph.

Dejected Giants players, led by Jeremy Cameron, after their loss to Hawthorn. Picture: AAP

“Any time you lose and don’t play in the manner we expect as Giants players you are embarrassed. It’s disappointing to put that out. You’re representing your fans and they have to (live with that) for a week and that’s disappointing.

“We understand that and we get embarrassed at that, because we think we’re better than that.

“It’s not from a lack of trying, but at the end of the day, sometimes trying isn’t quite good enough.”

Bartel said when the Giants were getting routinely flogged by 50-plus scores early in their existence, there were clear mitigating circumstances for them as a start-up club.

However, he said there were no excuses for a side considered among the premiership favourites behind Collingwood and Geelong.

Bartel said Matt de Boer and Zac Williams were the only two Giants who could hold their heads up high following the MCG debacle.