GWS Giants’ tall forward line faces big test against Port Adelaide on Saturday

THREE tall forwards is starting to look like a crowd in the Giants’ forward line and if the strategy doesn’t work against Port Adelaide it might be the last we see of it.

Rory Lobb and Jeremy Cameron celebrate a Giants goal.

THREE tall forwards are starting to look like a crowd in the GWS Giants forward line.

And if the combination of Jonathon Patton, Jeremy Cameron and Rory Lobb doesn’t work tomorrow against Port Adelaide in Canberra it might be the last we see of it.

Patton’s return for the vital game against Port Adelaide will be just the second time this year the Giants tall trio have lined up together.

ROUND 4 TEAMS: JAEGER INJURED, MAGPIES REGAIN ELLIOTT

MANUKA OVAL: GIANTS BATTLE HOLDS NO POWER FEARS

The first and only other time this year was a complete disaster when the Crows smashed the premiership favourites by 52 points at Adelaide Oval.

Cameron booted three, Lobb one and Patton was held goal less. Patton was struggling with a hip injury picked up early in the match but it was a very inauspicious start for the group.

Adelaide made the Giants look slow especially as they ran the ball out of their defence and set up attack after attack.

Rory Lobb and Jeremy Cameron celebrate a Giants goal.

Pressure in the forward 50 is one of the KPIs of modern football and it looked non-existent in round one. If it’s the same way again in Canberra on Saturday there is a good chance we won’t see it again.

The 205cm Lobb will be taking happy memories to the national capital, in the same fixture last year he had a break out performance booting four goals and taking a dozen marks.

“I think it’s great with Jon back in the team,” Lobb said.

“Having three talls in the forward line makes it difficult for opposition defenders because they can’t drop off us as much. They have to play us closer.”

Lobb believes that he, Patton and Cameron also provide different assets which can challenge backmen.

Jon Patton returns to the GWS line-up. Picture: Brett Costello

“We all play differently,” Lobb said.

“Jeremy is a really good lead up player who is quick. Jon can lead up as well but also takes good one on one contested marks. My role is to sit at the back and take contested marks. We complement each other’s games. Jon is coming back from a hip injury but moved well at training this week.”

GWS and Port are both sitting on two wins and a loss from the three games this season and a win to either team would be very handy at this early stage.

“The competition is very close,” Lobb said.

“There are a lot of teams looking very strong and some new ones among them. We played North Melbourne last week, they’re 0-3 but are playing really good footy. Port is playing a really good brand of footy and it will be tough in Canberra.

“It will be a very contested game if their first three are anything to go by, there was no shame in being beaten by Adelaide, we saw how good they were in Round 1.”

Originally published as GWS Giants’ tall forward line faces big test against Port Adelaide on Saturday