Phil Davis says GWS players were shattered, in tears and speechless after preliminary final loss

A SHATTERED Phil Davis says he is unsure whether he will be able to watch Saturday’s AFL Grand Final as the Giants come to terms with a heartbreaking preliminary final loss.

Josh Kelly can’t look after the final siren, ending the Giants’ season. Picture: Getty

A SHATTERED Phil Davis says he is unsure whether he will be able to watch Saturday’s AFL Grand Final as the Giants come to terms with a heartbreaking preliminary final loss.

While the Giants have a playing list capable of contending for premierships for years to come, the devastation of the six-point loss to the Western Bulldogs has left a huge mark.

Many of Davis’s teammates were reduced to tears after Saturday night’s match.

“I’ve never seen a more devastated group,” Davis told The Daily Telegraph.

“I’ve never seen anything like what I saw after the game. There were 22 blokes and a couple of coaches in a room together and nobody could speak.

“We were confident our best was going to be good enough. We wanted to be playing this Saturday and not to be is heartbreaking.”

The Giants looked like they had the game in their grasp when Rory Lobb and Toby Greene kicked the opening goals of the last quarter to open up a 14-point lead but the Bulldogs kicked four of the next five goals to sneak home by a kick.

Shattered GWS players Ryan Griffen and Shane Mumford come to terms with the loss as Bulldogs players celebrate on the final siren. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We put 10 months of hard work in to get to that position, you kick the ball all year and then it’s just one kick that stops your dream,” Davis said.

“We are a group who want success and to come so close and have it taken away is very upsetting. It’s our life, we put a lot of time into it and make a lot of sacrifices so it’s pretty heartbreaking.”

Davis said it won’t be the disappointment that drives the group to greater heights next year but the scenes of jubilation and ecstasy from their opponents.

“I look at the enjoyment on the faces of the Bulldogs and that is what I want,” Davis said.

“That’s what drives me, I don’t want to be running away from any sort of feelings I want to be running towards the good ones.”

The pain is still raw with Davis and his teammates but he can clearly see the progress the Giants have made in such a short time.

Four years ago they won just one match then six in 2014, 11 last year and now 17 plus a final in 2016.

Phil Davis did his best to lead the Giants to their first ever Grand Final appearance.

“At the end of the day it’s just been good to do what we’ve done this year,” Davis said.

“It’s been a big statement year for us. The competition is even and we have to get better, a lot better if we want to make a similar impact next year.”

Steve Johnson was sorely missed on Saturday and is yet to decide if he will play on again next year.

“I think anybody who kicks more than 40 goals in a season and averages more than 20 touches per game can play on,” Davis said.

“It’s up to him and from our point of view he had a fantastic year and made us a much better team.

“I love playing with Stevie, he’s a great competitor and a great footballer. We want him to stay.

“He’s played a lot of footy and it’s up to him if he wants to go again. It’s hard to get through a year of footy, hopefully he’s got it in him to keep going.”

Originally published as Phil Davis says GWS players were shattered, in tears and speechless after preliminary final loss