GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron laments ‘undisciplined’ performance against Fremantle

The GWS Giants have managed just one win across the first four rounds of the season and things aren’t about to get any easier.

The Giants are 1-3 after a month of footy. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Next weekend just doesn’t seem to be the right time for Greater Western Sydney to be playing Melbourne.

With a 1-3 record, there were some glaring issues that came up in the 34-point loss to Fremantle on Saturday. They need to be addressed quickly, or the reigning premiers could make life difficult for Leon Cameron and his Giants at the MCG on Easter Saturday.

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A lopsided free kick count, another final term fade-out and an inefficiency when going forward were all laid to bare for the Giants on Optus Oval on Saturday night.

While they managed to turn around a 1-3 start to 2021 and make finals, they need to quickly turn those three issues around if they are to repeat that in 2022.

Cameron said they needed to have a good look at how they ended up on the wrong side of a 42-16 free-kick count against the Dockers.

“You’re not winning free kicks if you’re not hard enough or tough enough or tackling in the right technique, if your aerial work is not good,” he said.

“Minus 26 is a massive discrepancy and doesn’t happen very often in a game of footy.

“We have to put up our hand, because I saw some real undisciplined acts from us.

“It gets you on the back foot; you can’t defend. A free kick gets reversed, or you give a poor free kick and they go straight away.

“The last four or five goals (from the Dockers) were on the back of our free kicks. There are some we’ll question, but we’ll take responsibility for where we are at.

“We went down minus 24 in contested ball and minus 26 in free kicks.

“We have to make sure we make good decision around congestion and not just give the ball back.”

The Giants need to turn things around quick smart. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

All six goals in the final term were kicked by Fremantle, taking the Giants’ final-quarter tally for this season to 0-4.

They have kicked 7.14 in fourth quarters and given up 19.8.

They trailed Sydney by five points at the final change in Round 1 and lost by 20; trailed Richmond by 24 and lost by 36; and led Gold Coast by 33 and won by just 26.

On Saturday night they trailed Fremantle by only two points at the final break and lost by 34 points.

Cameron said that playing out a whole 120 minutes is something the Giants usually pride themselves on.

“Even last week, we had control of the game and (the Suns) scored the last three goals,” he said.

“We need to make sure we’re playing 120 minutes. We have a young group out there, but there is no excuse. We have to find a way to fight the fight.

“You want to have it behind you that you can run out a game.”

Tensions threatened to boil over at Optus Stadium. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The Giants didn’t score a goal in the final term against the Dockers, despite going inside their attacking 50m 14 times.

The three goals they kicked in the third quarter came from Tom Green (two) and Matt de Boer.

While Jesse Hogan and Harry Himmelberg each kicked two goals in the first half, they didn’t add to that after halftime.

Callan Ward was the only Giant to get a shot at goal after halftime from a mark in attack.

Cameron was disappointed his side didn’t get reward for work being done, but admitted there was work to do on the ball movement when going forward.

“We just weren’t efficient. Our connection wasn’t there,” he said.

“When that isn’t there, they pounced on it.

“We have to go back to the drawing board and make sure our connection centre of forward is better than it was tonight.

“We need to know when Hogan gets on his bike and when we need to kick in long.

“We had more inside 50s after half time, so it’s probably more the decisions going inside 50.

“It’s pointless getting the ball off them if you aren’t going to hurt them.”

Cameron is in his ninth season as Giants coach. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Will Power

When discussing the best recruits over the recent off-season, Fremantle nabbing Will Brodie from the Gold Coast Suns needs to be in early conversations.

The 23-year-old has been important in the Dockers’ 3-1 start to the season.

He led all comers for possessions in Fremantle’s 34-point win over Greater Western Sydney, with 37 touches. Impressively, 20 of them were contested.

The Dockers’ trade for Brodie may yet be considered a steal. They collected the 2016 Number 9 draft pick and a pick, 19, for a second and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft.

With the Dockers missing Nat Fyfe and Caleb Serong in the early stages of this season, Brodie’s ability to slot into the midfield has been crucial.

David Mundy has also been in and out of the side due to Covid protocols and Andrew Brayshaw is dealing with close attention from opposition taggers.

Remember too, Adam Cerra opted out of the club during the off season in favour of a Carlton jumper.

Dockers stand-in coach Jaymie Graham was full of praise for Brodie’s performance on Saturday night.

“Yeah Brodie, he’s a mature body. We know his contested possession is one of his strengths,” Graham said.

“I think he had 20 contested possessions tonight, so he was really important for us inside.”

Brodie has proven a handy pick-up for the Dockers. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Brodie managed just 25 games for the Suns in 5 seasons, averaging just 12.8 possessions a game in his last season there. He is averaging 27 per game in a Dockers jumper.

Just as exciting for Fremantle is the emergence of 2020 second round draft pick, Nathan O’Driscoll.

He debuted in Round 2 against St Kilda as a sub and had an immediate impact, kicking a goal, although managing just two disposals.

He hit the scoreboard again in the derby win over West Coast and booted two from his 20 possessions in the win against the Giants.

The classy left-footer seems to have found his feet quickly and opposition sides would be wise not to save time when scouting him.

“He’s like a number of our younger guys. he plays to his strengths,” Graham said.

“His work rate is outstanding. What’s pleasing is he understands his role. He’s happy to stick at his role and play his role.

“We’re rapt. We probably haven’t seen him have as many shots at goal before. He got forward and hit the scoreboard.“

Originally published as GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron laments ‘undisciplined’ performance against Fremantle