GWS Giants must be bold if it is to beat West Coast in semi-final, writes David King
LEON Cameron has to let his Ferraris loose on the semi-final autobahn, writes David King. If it proves successful, Richmond will have plenty to worry about in their preliminary final.
David King
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IF THE Giants are to have success this season it won’t be on the back of their defence, it will only be through superior ball movement at a speed that the other teams simply cannot diffuse.
Leon Cameron must wonder just how good his team could be if he gave the green light for flat-out attack.
It’s unlikely to happen on Saturday night and it may never be witnessed, but maybe through injury-fuelled adversity there is no other way Greater Western Sydney can win the 2017 premiership.
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Why don’t the Giants just play the adventurous, brave football they are clearly capable of and which they exhibited over the last 18 months but only sporadically recently? Enough of the hesitation, enough of the apprehension. No more second guessing. Just play.
It’s the perfect time for the Giants to unleash their offensive fury.
Over the first 20 rounds the Giants seriously punished an opposition turnover, only Adelaide were better. But over the past month GWS is a lowly-rated 14th in that category, which simply isn’t even premiership conversation worthy.
How has it come to this? Is it the injury toll? Is it Cameron’s method? Is it selection?
Surely the Giants have a better line-up than West Coast which has been on life support for the past two weeks? Richmond and Adelaide earned their weekend off, but they would still fear a Giants outfit that could catch fire at any time.
Their hesitation has been so constrictive as they counter-attack from their defensive half of the field.
The Giants must refuse to accept the easy lateral, wide options closer to the boundary line than the corridor on counter punch. Stay fluent and aggressive and give the Eagles less time to get numbers back into their defensive end.
The Giants’ counter-attack game has been ordinary in their past two games. They’re a team that relies on scoring from their defensive-half of the field as they’ve been an unreliable forward pressure team.
Just nine and 19 points against Geelong (Round 23) and Adelaide (qualifying final).
The Giants are still rated the best in the competition at moving the football from any point on the field on offence but today they must avoid one man in particular. Jeremy McGovern.
Jeremy McGovern is Alex Rance in disguise. No one has intercept marked the oppositions kicks more than Jeremy this season, no one. What option will Leon Cameron choose to stifle his impact?
In my opinion McGovern must be tagged. Ken Hinkley let him do as he pleased against youngster Todd Marshall and Ken now finds himself spectating week two of the finals series. Why couldn’t Harry Himmelberg play the role that Harry Taylor performed spectacularly against Alex Rance only a month or so ago?
Leon Cameron may choose the option to constantly use McGovern’s opponent via hit-up leads but that’s been tried before and has failed regularly.
Don’t get beaten by what you know.
Elliot Yeo versus Toby Greene was fascinating last time these two teams met. It wouldn’t be surprising if both players won Brownlow votes such was the quality of this battle.
In the end, Greene had three goals on the board to give him slight edge but Yeo collected 30 disposals and won the ball back for the Eagles a staggering 14 times.
Brett Deledio and Steve Johnson are the wildcard forwards tonight that due to their lack of defensive pressure must spend time at full-forward, as deep as possible. Play to their strengths, not across half-forward where their opponents can counter-attack with ease.
The doubters have been vocal and monotonous regarding Stevie J’s lack of scoreboard impact and the fact that his body may have had enough AFL football. I think you’ll see this champion’s mental strength drive him one more time and prove why he’s still the game’s greatest entertainer.
Adam Simpson rated Dylan Shiel over Josh Kelly for his No.1 tagger Mark Hutchings in Round 22.
Shiel was held to a meagre 21 disposals but Kelly ran riot to gather 43 in a best-afield performance. I get the feeling Sharrod Wellingham will have the Kelly assignment.
If Simpson locks away Shiel and Kelly, minimises Greene’s influence, then maybe Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey and Sam Mitchell can ignite off the back of what will be hitout dominance.
Drew Petrie has forgotten how old he is. He embarrassed Patrick Ryder last week and expect a more attacking, forward running game from Petrie as he’ll challenge Rory Lobb to be diligent playing as a defender.
It’s time for the Ferrari to hit the autobahn.
Cameron must slip the Sherrin into fifth and sixth gear.
Giants by five points