AFL round 7: Giants steal ‘Battle of the Bridge’ at death

The Giants pulled off a remarkable heist to steal the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ from the Swans as Toby Greene kicked the winner in an enthralling all-Sydney affair.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 29: Toby Greene of the Giants celebrates with his team mates after kicking a goal during the round seven AFL match between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground, on April 29, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

GWS coach Adam Kingsley has lavished praise on his skipper Toby Greene after he near singlehandedly secured the Giants new coach the biggest win of his short time in charge, in the Sydney Derby.

Greene’s masterful snap over his shoulder, for his fourth goal of the game at the SCG, put the Giants in front with less than a minute to go and secured him the Brett Kirk Medal for best on ground as GWS held on late.

The Giants captain had eleven score involvements as well including setting up Harry Perryman in the third term for one of his three majors.

“He’s an outstanding player, he’s been that for a long time, he’s had that impact on games for a long time now. He just seizes those moments and looks for those opportunities where he can impact,” Giants coach Adam Kingsley said.

Toby Greene was the star in the Giants’ huge win. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Asked what makes Greene so special, Kingsley said it was his contest work.

“His ability to win the ball in the contest is just elite. If you go through all the elite players in the league they all win contest. His ability to do that in critical moments also is as good as anyone.”

Swans coach John Longmire opted for Oli Florent as the match-up on Greene and returned fire post-match at questioning over whether that was the best option.

“Who were you expecting?” Longmire said.

“Who were the other options you’ve got for him? It’s one thing to throw it up you’ve got to have an option. If you put Callum Mills back there all of a sudden you get criticised as a coach because you put one of your best midfielders to half-back.”

“It’s one thing to have a question, you’ve got to have a solution,” Longmire added.

While devastated by the loss the Swans coach was proud of his players intent after last week’s 93 point humiliation at the hands of Geelong.

He’s confident Sydney can still rescue its season despite having lost three of their last four games.

“It’s not so much about the season it’s about intent. Our intent was good, we stuffed up a few things which cost us the game,” Longmire said.

Giants players celebrate Greene’s late goal. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

“We’ve got to keep that intent as our baseline, which we dropped well away from last week, we’ve got to do it again next week that’s what the AFL industry is about and we’ve got Collingwood next week and that’s going to be a tough one,” he added.

As for the Giants, the remarkable win in Derby 25 is the best in recent memory for them and coach Kingsley is optimistic about their prospects from here.

“Anything’s possible, I think. We’ve still got a lot to learn, a lot of the numbers from today weren’t in our favour but we still found a way to win.”

“To be able to be in every game without being perfect, once we piece together the parts of our game then I think we’re capable of a lot more,” Kingsley said.

The Giants coach was impressed with Jack Buckley’s game deep in defence on Buddy Franklin despite the Swans great kicking three goals while his singled out Callum Brown as a surprise packet defensively after his excellent showing.

BUDDY BIG TASK

The last time Buddy Franklin only managed four goals from his first three games to start the season was in 2006. The next week he kicked six. He managed half of that haul in this game but his impact was profound and his massive mark and goal in the second term showed he has still has plenty of magic left. Jack Buckley has a tough job marshalling the giants backline without Sam Taylor there and started well, but Buddy won out as he so often does.

Lance Franklin fired in his return. Photo by Phil Hillyard

DERBY DRAMA

There’s no love lost between the two Sydney sides and a half-time melee demonstrated that. Just as it was starting to simmer, Toby Greene ran in and through Callum Mills to the ground sparking an all-in push and shove that may see some fines issued from the MRO. As per usual Greene had a say in matters, his final minute intervention was far more powerful.

Tempers flared between the Sydney sides. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

THE DERBY SPECIALIST

There is something about Luke Parker in the Sydney Derby. He’s won five Brett Kirk Medals and was the Swans best again with 33 touches and a goal in the last quarter that seemed to seal the win for the Swans and another best on ground display until the Giants rallied late.

SYD: 3.2, 7.5, 13.9, 16.10 (106)

GWS: 4.1, 9.3, 12.3, 17.5 (107)

BEST:

SYD: Parker, Ladhams, Franklin, Warner, Gulden, Hayward, Francis

GWS: Greene, Perryman, Coniglio, Green, Brown, Callaghan, Himmelberg,

O’Halloran.

GOALS:

SYD: Franklin 3, Hayward 3, McDonald 3, Papley, Clarke, Ladhams, Gulden,

Warner, Parker, McLean

GWS: Greene 4, Perryman 3, O’Halloran 2, Coniglio 2, Hogan 2, Himmelberg,

Bedford, Cadman, Daniels

VOTES:

3 – Toby Greene (GWS)

2 – Luke Parker (SYD)

1 – Harry Perryman (GWS)

Originally published as AFL round 7: Giants steal ‘Battle of the Bridge’ at death