Steve Johnson puts doubters in their place but new test awaits Giants, writes Mark Robinson

GREATER Western Sydney found its groove and Steve Johnson stuck it up his critics but next week’s preliminary final will be a new experience for the Giants.

Six-goal hero Steve Johnson leads the Giants off Spotless Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

THE AFL’s newest team will play one of the AFL’s oldest teams in what will be a test of run-and-carry versus pressure and intensity.

Greater Western Sydney found its groove at home against West Coast and will meet Richmond in the preliminary final at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

By groove, we mean a total all-round performance.

By groove, we mean a total all-round destruction.

By groove, we mean Stevie Johnson, who stuck two fingers up at all his critics — and there we many.

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The match effectively was over at halftime.

The Giants kicked 9.7 to 4.2 — 16 shots at goal to six — to halftime and when Jonathon Patton kicked the first goal of the third quarter, the Giants had kicked nine of the past 11 goals and led 68-26.

Then Johnson got to work. He kicked the next goal, but by then he had already ensured he was playing this week against the Tigers.

Minutes later, he kicked his second goal, marking the ball against Tom Barrass and Jeremy McGovern.

Steve Johnson celebrates one of his six goals against the Eagles. Picture: Getty Images

He kicked his third in the same quarter, a rudimentary left-footer on the shuffle from 40m. And he kicked his fourth goal of the quarter after taking a mark in the pocket.

His fifth goal to start the final quarter was nonchalant as the game descended into circle work.

His sixth was even more relaxed — he received a gimme handball in the pocket and put it around the body.

The goals would please coach Leon Cameron, but he would also be pleased with Johnson’s tireless work to defend and disrupt in the forward 50m, which was the problem in his recent matches.

For those who buried Johnson in Round 23 after an ­underwhelming performance at Geelong, and demanded he never play again, they will be eating humble pie.

Of course, they’ll want a repeat effort in the preliminary final in a bid to justify their commentary, but internally they’ll know Johnson showed them and everyone in the football world he wasn’t done yet.

Noted, the Eagles’ pressure was brutally insipid, but four goals in a quarter and six goals in a semi-final can’t be ignored.

The match was won in the 15 minutes either side of the first quarter, and after that it was a football shakedown.

The Giants kicked four of the last five goals in the first quarter and the first three goals of the second quarter.

Stephen Coniglio was one of the Giants’ best. Picture: Getty Images

Obliged to go small after ­injuries to Shane Mumford and Jeremy Cameron, the Giants were quick to defend and attack, defended with zest in their forward half, monstered the contests and their spread left the Eagles reeling.

Their plan to avoid long bombs into the forward line worked, which helped reduce the effectiveness of West Coast’s defensive interceptors.

It was the complete performance.

If the Tigers allow them the same space and time this week, they, too, will be victims.

The Eagles were a rabble who failed dismally to apply the required pressure on the Giants midfield last night.

Callan Ward, Josh Kelly, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Conigilio and Lachie Whitfield — the Fantastic Five — were prolific, as was Rory Lobb, the forward-cum-ruckman who made a mess of Nathan Vardy and Drew Petrie.

Lachie Whitfield pushes Brad Sheppard aside. Picture: AAP

That midfield gang is Richmond’s major concern.

Brett Deledio played halfback and was OK, but he will be one of the curious stories in the lead-up this week, seeing as he will play against his former team. Won’t he be keen.

For the Eagles, it was a fluffy end to a fluffy season, in that at times they looked accomplished and confident and at other times pedestrian.

They’ll lose Sam Mitchell, Matt Priddis and Drew Petrie, who played their final games of their brilliant careers.

So, it will be newly shaped Eagles midfield next year.

It will be new times for the Giants as well. They’ll play their first final at the MCG in front of a possible 90,000 fans — and 86,000 will be rabid Tigers fans.

What a contrast to Saturday night.

The crowd of 14,865 at Spotless Stadium was the lowest for a VFL/AFL final since 1916, when only 9690 watched Fitzroy win a semi-final against Collingwood by six points at the MCG.