‘It’s our home’: Giants desperate to turnaround nine-match losing streak at Manuka Oval

The Giants hadn’t made a grand final the last time they won a match in Canberra. It’s a trend they’re desperate to turn around this weekend against the Suns.

The Giants are currently on a nine-match losing streak in Canberra. Picture: Brett Hemmings/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

A lot has happened since the last time the Giants won a match at Manuka Oval.

The date was May 4, 2019 — a 44-point win against St Kilda.

It was a time before the world had heard about the Covid-19 pandemic and only months before GWS made their first grand final.

In nine games since, they’ve experienced nine losses. That includes defeats to the Bulldogs and Lions already this year.

But this new generation of Giants is ready to draw a line in the sand and finally turn Canberra, their second home, into a fortress.

Harry Himmelberg and Tom Green react after their loss to the Bulldogs this year. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“We want to win in Canberra,” Adam Kingsley said. “That’s important, that’s our home.

“We want to try and create a fortress down there and we haven’t been able to do that in recent history.

“We want to start that back again on Sunday … and get a win for the people who show up down there. It’s been a while so it’s important to us.”

Kingsley’s side has a chance to make that breakthrough against the Gold Coast Suns on Sunday, and they’re as well prepared as ever.

Currently on a five-match winning streak, their latest win over the Crows featured a stirring second-half comeback.

The Giants secured a big win in Adelaide for Lachie Whitfield’s 200th. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

But Kingsley felt his side was always in the game despite what the scoreboard might have suggested.

“I felt like parts of the game were in our favour,” he said.

“I think we were creating good opportunities but just weren’t finishing our work. To be able to persist and have the last quarter like we did when we turned it around … was really pleasing from the guys.”

It was an impressive performance from the Giants given the mass changes they had to make to their squad.

The late withdrawals of Tom Green and Finn Callaghan added to the injury ward of Xavier O’Halloran and Lachlan Keeffe from a week earlier.

Having the depth in his squad to replace that calibre of players is a perfect example of what Kingsley is trying to build.

“We’ve been really good at the VFL,” Kingsley said.

“Wayne Cripps (VFL coach) has been really strong at exposing guys to different positions and making sure that they’re playing a Giants brand of footy down there.

“I feel really confident bringing all out guys in that they’ve experienced what it feels like to be a Giant.”

Kingsley is confident Finn Callaghan will return against the Suns. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Kingsley’s options will be boosted at the selection table this weekend with the return of Nick Haynes from suspension.

Tom Green is expected to miss at least another two weeks, but Finn Callaghan is likely to be named if he gets through their final training sessions this week.

Despite being one of the form teams in the competition, Kingsley knows it will be all hands on deck against a Suns side looking to continue their resurgence following the sacking of Stuart Dew.

“They were certainly very vibrant [in the win against St Kilda],” he said.

“They attacked the contest really well and they’re traditionally a really good contest and stoppage team – I think they were plus 15 against the Saints.

“We’ll have to be able to manage that, there’s no question about it. We’ll challenge them in certain aspects, but we have to be wary because they’re very capable.”

Originally published as ‘It’s our home’: Giants desperate to turnaround nine-match losing streak at Manuka Oval