The one weakness keeping GWS Giants from becoming unstoppable in season 2025

After defeating the reigning premiers, the Giants’ midfield group holds the key to their ultimate success. But, there’s one weakness which is holding them back - Lachie McKirdy unpacks it.

The Giants’ new era might have officially arrived in their win over the Lions on the weekend, but consistency from their midfield group is the one thing keeping them from being “unstoppable”.

Adam Kingsley’s side travelled to Brisbane as the underdogs following a shaky patch of form, but on the back of Jesse Hogan and Aaron Cadman’s combined 11-goal haul, came away with a crucial victory over the reigning premiers.

However, the win was even more stark considering the players they had on the park.

The 23 that played for the Giants at the Gabba was the youngest team in the competition in round 14 by average age. Across the past five seasons, last weekend’s Giants’ side was also the seventh youngest team to take the field in the AFL, in a great sign that both their list is set up for both present and future success.

It was also a landmark moment for the club as it was the first time in their history that they fielded a team without a player who appeared in their inaugural game against the Swans in 2012. Toby Greene’s late omission created the milestone, which suggests the Giants are well and truly in a new chapter of their progression.

However, as they look to finally build some momentum towards a premiership charge, it’s evident that the midfield group is where the upside can be found.

This’ll be the first time GWS has not fielded a player from its inaugural side for any premiership match.

The game against the Lions will be their 315th in club history.

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This season, the Giants rank 16th for clearances, 15th for contested possessions and 15th for points from clearances. If they want to match it with the top teams in the AFL, they need to find ways to improve their output around the stoppages.

The Giants haven’t had strong midfield numbers in 2025, but found some positives around the centre bounces against Brisbane on the back of Finn Callaghan’s return. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

GWS’ strength in both the forward line, with the likes of Hogan and Cadman, and the back line, with stars such as Sam Taylor, Jack Buckley and Connor Idun, has been well-documented. But the younger brigade in midfield wants to help lead the charge and match their other line groups.

“I feel like it’s been a big growth for us, not just this year, probably last year as well,” Finn Callaghan said.

“Our back line’s so strong and our forward line’s so damaging, and our midfield, if we can get that to a level where we’re beating the opposition midfield every week, it’s going to go a long way to us being hard to beat and being unstoppable.

“(The) midfield hasn’t quite been at a level which we would have liked, and that’s something we’ve definitely spoken about. We’re putting heaps of work in to try and make sure we’re doing our part each week, and I feel like on the weekend, that was our level. That’s what we’re capable of doing and I want to see more of that for the back half of the season and hopefully finals.

“I feel like I’ve taken some extra responsibility in there … it’s something I’ve tried to add to my game in on-field leadership, even Monday to Friday around the club.”

Callaghan’s return against the Lions after a month out with a shoulder injury was a stark reminder of what the Giants look like at their best. He had 32 disposals, five clearances and 585 metres gained with Brisbane unable to quell his influence.

And although Tom Green was also at his brilliant best again with 11 clearances, it was the impact of youngsters Nick Madden and Harry Rowston that also caught the eye.

Madden helped lead the Giants to an 18-10 win at centre clearances, while in his first full game in over two years, Rowston had 18 touches and six tackles in a successful return.

It had been nearly two years since Harry Rowston made a full AFL appearance, but he looked at home bringing the Giants much needed aggression in midfield. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“Rowsto was brilliant,” Callaghan said. “He’s a great fella, but on the field, he just brings aggression and he hunts the footy.

“We haven’t been missing that in the midfield, but he certainly brought an element and added something. He played to his strengths on the weekend, and it felt like it really helped us in the end.”

The key now for Callaghan and the rest of the midfield is to back it up against a Gold Coast side that has emerged as one of the best stoppage groups in the AFL. The Suns are in the top four in the competition for clearances, centre clearances, contested possessions, and lead the AFL for metres gained per disposal.

And on Sunday, the Giants are going to have to draw on some of their form from the Gabba last weekend if they want to get the job done.

The Giants will need another big effort from their midfield group against the Suns who have one of the best in the competition. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“It’s (not) just Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson’s a brilliant player in there … Touk Miller’s a gun, I feel like Jarrod Witts has been in great form,” Callaghan said.

“They’re in great form. I feel like we’re both on similar trajectories this season, and it’s going to be an exciting match-up.

“The bigger games this year against the good teams, we really build them up and want to put our best foot forward. Hopefully, if we’re going from the win on the weekend against Brisbane, it can click for us and we can carry that momentum through the next few weeks.”