Why Mick McGuane believes GWS’s star-studded midfield is the key to September success

GWS is a strong defensive unit and has a superstar key forward, but Collingwood legend Mick McGuane says any success the Giants have in 2019 starts and ends with the midfield. Here’s why.

The Giants’ balanced midfield unit is what separates Leon Cameron’s men from the rest at this stage with the club having set up their season nicely in the first half of the campaign.

They are doing a lot right and that’s the reason why this group’s got to be taken seriously when we’re talking about September.

As you get closer to September the pressure mounts for spots. We’ve a tight ladder at the moment. There’s still a lot of clubs alive in that six to 13 bracket so you still have to keep banking wins. To cement your spot you probably need 13 wins.

Josh Kelly is the Rolls Royce the GWS midfield is built on. Picture: Getty Images

So the Giants are still six wins away from being a part of September talk. But right now their confidence levels will be sky-high based on their midfield dominance. Based on their possession-winning ability, their contested ball, their clearance game’s pretty strong, and their turnover game is getting to a point where you have to rate them very, very seriously.

I reckon that’s been the great transformation in this team. Historically they’ve been a stoppage team, scoring from stoppage. That wasn’t sustainable. You had to have a better turnover game, something they’ve clearly worked hard on.

If they keep working on stifling the opposition’s ball movement and getting the defensive aspects in place so they don’t suffer blowouts, they will be much better served.

They have a healthy percentage, the second best behind Geelong, always a great indicator of how they’re travelling in both offence and defence. Their average winning margin is 47 points in the seven wins so far but the concern in their three losses is their average losing margin is six goals.

Tim Taranto has elevated his game to the elite level this season. Picture: AFL Photos

They’ve got to close down that gap when they do lose. We expect a lot from Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield and Josh Kelly. They’re the main names in that midfield group, but you’ve guys like Jacob Hopper, who’s a competitive beast, very good in the contest, a good clearance player, Tim Taranto who has now elevated himself to what I would call an elite midfielder. He reads the cues well, where the ball’s going next, a bit like Josh Kelly.

These guys can impact the game on turnover because they stay in the game through concentration, application, reading the game and effective ball use.

The one who is probably unheralded is the selfless Matt de Boer. He’s prepared to give up his own game of hunting the footy to hunting the opposition’s best midfielder, which he’s done with an enormous success. Just ask Dustin Martin and Patrick Cripps.

AFL TIPS: NEVER PICKING BLUES AGAIN …

GIANT PLUS: LIDS READY FOR GIANT FINALS RUN

Matt de Boer has become the Giants’ unsung midfield hero, shutting down the likes of Dustin Martin. Picture: AAP

They’ve got a great balance in their midfield. They’re winning plenty of the ball, as they’re averaging +51 disposals per game versus their opponent, second in the competition.

They’re a contested ball-winning group, averaging plus 15 contested possessions per game versus their opposition, which is ranked first in the completion — no mean feat.

This group, individually and collectively, have taken their game to another level.

In the modern game you to score on turnover. They are averaging 57 points from turnover per game, ranked second in the competition.

That’s something this midfield group has to continue to improve on.

Forwards Jeremy Cameron, Jeremy Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg have a great understanding at the moment of their roles and particularly how they separate from each other’s space.

In their current form top four should be a realistic possibility to launch themselves to win that elusive flag.