GWS Giants storm past outclassed St Kilda to keep hopes alive

Giants skipper Toby Greene has made a shock confession after GWS’ elimination final victory over St Kilda at the MCG.

Max King celebrates after kicking a goal in the second quarter against GWS. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Greater Western Sydney has made the AFL world sit up and take notice after a sensational return to the finals at the MCG.

In front of more than 68,000 people, most of which were supporting the Saints, the Giants held sway virtually from start to finish in a 24-point win.

Toby Bedford, who beat a suspension on appeal during the week, and maligned forward Jesse Hogan both kicked two goals in the 15.11 (101) to 11.11 (77) victory.

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The Giants lost influential midfielder Stephen Coniglio to an eye injury before the match and he is expected to return when the Giants play the loser of the later match between the Lions and Port Adelaide next week.

Toby Bedford (second from left) played a key role in the Giants’ impressive win. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

After the match, Giants skipper Toby Greene made a shock confession when talking about thie current GWS side.

Over its short history, the expansion club has been blessed with some of the best talent across the AFL and Greene stated bluntly that’s no longer the case.

“It’s probably the least talented side I’ve played in that’s played in finals and probably the side I’ve got the most trust in to perform,” he said on Channel 7.

“It’s a special group to be a part of at the moment.”

"It's probably the least talented side I've played in that's played in finals, but it's probably the side I've got the most trust in to perform."

Toby Greene talks about the hunger and talent of these Giants.#AFLSaintsGiantspic.twitter.com/73c7MmDk4G

— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 9, 2023

Former Melbourne skipper Garry Lyon, meanwhile, said the Giants would be a side to be feared for here on out.

“That was super impressive. They were fantastic the Giants,” he said on Fox Footy.

“They were challenged on a number of occasions by a really brave St Kilda but in the end they weren’t up to it.

“Class, deep, they’re quick, they’re tough. They’re not finished I don’t think.

“They’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

6pm AEST - Giants with all the answers

The Saints got the first goal of the final term to get the margin inside 20 points for the first time since the second quarter.

But as they had done all day long, the Giants answered and were never in real danger of being run down.

GWS had winners all over the ground and Saturday’s effort will have the loser of the qualifying final between Brisbane and Port more than wary next week.

5.25pm AEST - GWS leads, Saints not dead yet

Just when the Giants look ready to put the game to bed, St Kilda finds a way back in.

Toby Bedford’s second goal of the game in the third term re-established a seven-goal lead for GWS and hope looked lost for the Saints.

Brad Hill (left) was key to St Kilda’s late rally in the third quarter. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

The Saints have shown an ability to score quickly in this game, however, and they kicked the final three goals of the term in a five-minute stretch.

Brad Hill’s move forward was working for St Kilda and trailing by 25 points with a quarter to play, a first goal for the Saints in the fourth quarter could make things very interesting.

4.30pm AEST - Saints finally show some signs of life

The Giants were playing an outstanding brand of football, running all over the Saints to kick an incredible eight unanswered goals over the first and second quarters.

Holding a 40-point lead, GWS had St Kilda fans holding their heads in their hands and barely able to watch.

Yet just as it looked like a thrashing was on the cards, St Kilda finally wrestled back some momentum.

Cooper Sharman’s second goal of the day broke the drought and when Max King missed from close range, it looked like a horror day for the big key forward.

He took that in his stride, however, kicking two goals in two minutes to drag his side back into it.

Brad Hill’s goal with six seconds remaining, following a goal review, reduced the margin to a manageable 23 points at the long break.

“There was a sense it was almost gone and then Max King sprung to life,” Garry Lyon said at halftime.

Max King became an influential figure in the second quarter. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

“He missed one he should’ve kicked, then he got one back and kicked another clutch goal.

“There was some life.”

Former Collingwood skipper Nathan Buckley was even more brutal in his assessment of the injury-plagued full forward.

“If we’re being absolutely brutal, first quarter and a half, Max King was non-existent,” Buckley said.

“There wasn’t even a contest or much effort at all.

“He needed to compete and contest and then he started having an influence.”

St Kilda’s Jack Steele (left) and Toby Greene will captain the respective sides on Saturday. Photos: News Corp Australia

3.45pm AEST - The visitors get off to a hot start

The Giants produced a superb second half of the season to get themselves into September action.

Having knocked off Carlton to ensure finals football a fortnight ago, they appear to have continued that form into Saturday’s clash.

Cooper Sharman kicked the opening goal of the game for St Kilda inside the first minute.

GWS captain Toby Greene responded within 90 seconds, however, and the visitors then kicked five of the next six goals for the quarter to take an 18-point lead into the first change.

“Adam Kingsley would be very happy how the game is looking at the moment,” Daisy Pearce said on Fox Footy.

“They’re not letting St Kilda play their game.”

There was particular interest in a goal to Giant Toby Bedford late in the term following a contested mark in the forward 50m.

Bedford was initially suspended for this game over a bump against Carlton’s Zac Fisher, but finally earned his place in the side after a long, drawn-out appeal process.

Bedford (centre) celebrates his first-quarter goal against the Sanits. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

3pm AEST - Giants lose a critical piece before the game starts

Former skipper Stephen Coniglio has been one of GWS’ best players all season long, earning a spot in the 44-man All Australian squad.

He was ruled out on game day, however, due to an eye injury suffered at training on Thursday.

the man known affectionately as Cogs is a huge out for the Giants, replaced in the side by 23-year-old midfielder Xavier O’Halloran.

The Saints had their own line-up issue earlier in the day, with forward Tim Membrey withdrawn from the side in what was described only as a “personal health matter”.

Teenager Anthony Caminiti, who played 17 matches for the Saints up front this season, has come into the team.