AFL GWS v Hawthorn: Giants push towards top-eight spot after gritty win

The Giants certainly didn’t have it all their own way against the Hawks, but managed to overcome the brown and gold by 13 points as finals look a genuine possibility.

Ed Bourke

@edbourke6

2 min read

July 8, 2023 - 4:58PM

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Significant clearance woes continue to frustrate the Giants but their finals hopes are firmly intact after fending off a spirited Hawthorn to claim a fourth win in a row.

GWS moved to 8-8 to close in on a top eight spot with the 13-point win, which came amid a fierce challenge from the Hawks in pursuit of their first victory from eight attempts at Giants Stadium.

Hawthorn cut the margin to eight points midway through the final term when Connor Macdonald burst out of a stoppage for the Hawks’ fifth centre bounce goal of the game, but Jesse Hogan’s fourth major from a free kick sealed the gritty win.

Ruckman Kieren Briggs was dominant around the ground but there are questions over the connection between the 23-year-old and the players at his feet after GWS was belted in the centre clearances 6-17 by a Hawthorn on-ball brigade led by Will Day and Jai Newcombe.

Jai Newcombe was a shining light in the Hawks loss. Picture: Getty Images

It is the second week in a row the Giants have been thrashed at stoppages after managing to overcome an abhorrent 2-14 centre clearance deficit in Alice Springs against Melbourne.

Classy finishing from Stephen Coniglio proved the difference for GWS as captaincy successor Toby Greene was shut out of the game by Hawks stopper Blake Hardwick.

Josh Kelly was also denied any impact by tagger Finn Maginness, but the Giants were defensively strong in their own right as Sam Taylor thrived in his third game back from a serious hamstring injury, keeping Hawks spearhead Mitch Lewis goalless.

Giants tall Lachlan Keeffe came from the field in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and was immediately put on ice, with the 33-year-old almost certain to miss next week’s trip away against Adelaide.

Josh Kelly was kept to a low disposal count by the Hawks. Picture: Getty Images

KELLY TAGGED OUT

Josh Kelly was stunningly kept to only six disposals as fringe Hawk Finn Maginness executed a run-with masterclass on the wing and in the middle.

Maginness claimed some impressive scalps last season but in 2023 had managed only five senior games prior to this one, with his clamping effort denying the Giants access to their best ball-user and highly influential in helping Hawthorn counter a far more experienced midfield.

CHAD MAKES CASE

Chad Wingard only received an AFL call-up last week due to the late withdrawal of Tyler Brockman, but after holding his spot strung together an impressive performance which could breathe life back into his career.

Out of contract at the season’s end, the Port Adelaide star might have just done enough against the Giants to earn a new deal, recording six score involvements and booting two goals, including an electric jump-kick on the goal line to start the second quarter.

Kieren Briggs is a force in the ruck. Picture: Getty Images

BRIGGS SHOWS OFF SKILLS

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell will rue his decision to omit the 109kg Lloyd Meek and deploy Ned Reeves as the lone ruckman after GWS strongman Kieren Briggs ran riot in a near best-on-ground performance.

Briggs has been a revelation this year since breaking into the Giants’ side in round 10, leading his fellow on-ballers with six clearances and displaying impressive foot skills.

In an unusual play for a ruckman, he charged forward to receive a handball off a teammate and found Jake Riccardi at the top of the goal square with a pinpoint 50m pass off the outside of his right boot during the first quarter.