Young Giants walk the walk after talking the talk against reigning premiers Collingwood

It wasn’t the ‘deep’, ‘nourishing’ win Craig McRae was hoping for, but was it a reality check as the Pies rue missed opportunities in Saturday night’s lost to GWS?

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 09: Magpies head coach Craig McRae looks dejected after the final siren during the AFL Opening Round match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Collingwood Magpies at ENGIE Stadium, on March 09, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Collingwood realises it will have to lift another gear if it wants to defend its AFL premiership.

It’s way too early to be hitting the panic button with round one technically not upon us yet, but when an already strong team like the GWS Giants looks to have risen to the next level, Craig McRae knows what is required of his side in 2024.

The Magpies coach gave the Giants a glowing endorsement for how they’ve come back from the off-season.

“Geez they played well,” he said.

“It looks like they’ve improved certain parts of their game. Their contest was strong and they moved the ball really effectively.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 09: Magpies head coach Craig McRae looks dejected after the final siren during the AFL Opening Round match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Collingwood Magpies at ENGIE Stadium, on March 09, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

“They have big threats down forward and played extremely well.”

Last year’s preliminary final saw Collingwood scrape home by a point to deny GWS on its own path towards a flag.

Despite the Giants turning that result around in a big way to romp home to a 32-point win, McRae was reluctant to call the defeat a reality check.

“It’s early to sort of think that, but one thing for certain coming into the game is we thought we’d improved physically,” he said.

“You get here and the reality is that everyone else is improving.”

There were areas of encouragement for Collingwood, finishing the contest with 60 inside 50s.

McRae said their inability to capitalise on those chances let them down, but takes encouragement from the fact they can turn it around next week.

“The stats would say we had opportunities to score well but we just didn’t connect going inside 50,” he said.

The Pies went inside 50 60 times but lacked connection against GWS. Picture: Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“There’s a lot of parts to that. There’s chemistry, roles, opposition defending that part well.

“We touched on that at halftime and how we couldn’t quite capitalise. They scored quite easily when they went inside 50 which was a bit of a trend.

“One of the great things about this game is we learnt some really good lessons early.

“We want to have deep wins and nourish those wins, and we want to have shallow losses but learn the lessons really quickly.

“The great thing for our fans is that we come back in six days’ time when we play the Swans at the MCG when we get all our fans to celebrate.

“They can unveil the flag and we’re getting back to work.”

SHOTS FIRED: YOUNG GIANTS PROVE A POINT OVER REIGNING PREMIERS

There’s no hiding from Collingwood’s history. They’re one of the most successful teams across the lifespan of the VFL/AFL and travelled to the youngest team’s stadium off the back of a record-equalling 16th premiership.

It’s a fact that the Giants didn’t shy away from. Throughout the pre-season, the club wasn’t afraid to take shots at their preliminary final foes.

Hatred. Netball. The Easter Show. Mason Cox. Nothing had been off-limits in the build-up to this Opening Round clash.

And while Pies fans were quick to reply with pictures of the premiership cup, it never fazed the Giants.

It was only fitting then that the one player on the ground who had the shortest Aussie rules background, who years earlier had no concept of the Pies’ years of glory, was the one who masterminded their undoing.

Callum Brown was a Gaelic football star as a teenager but was quickly identified by the Giants with the potential to make the transition to footy.

Things didn’t click immediately. Only on one-year contracts, the Category B rookie toiled through a Covid season where he resided mainly in the Giants’ NEAFL side.

Brent Daniels and Callum Brown of the Giants celebrate during their side’s victory over Collingwood in Opening Round. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

He returned home to Ireland in patches, but not once did he ever think about giving up.

As the years went on, the kid from Limavady looked more comfortable. By 2023, he was an integral part of the GWS forward line that made it to a preliminary final.

However, Saturday night was a turning point for the 23-year-old. For the first time in his AFL career, he played the opening game of the season for the Giants.

And boy, did he make it count.

By quarter time, Brown had three goals. A combination of power, strength and craft to spark his team’s charge. He added a fourth in the second term following a strong contested mark. He finished off his record day by slotting a fifth and final major from the pocket.

It was the perfect night for Adam Kingsley’s men who couldn’t have scripted a better way to avenge the one-point loss last September.

Brown’s standout performance was equally matched by an incredible showing from Jesse Hogan. He took marks for fun across the ground and his velcro-like hands were equally supported by his deadeye in front of goal as he finished with four majors.

Giants captain Toby Greene celebrates kicking a goal during the AFL Opening Round. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

It was also the start of a promising partnership with Aaron Cadman who complemented his mentor strongly and got into the thick of the action with two goals and some emphatic contested marks.

All parts were moving smoothly up top for the Giants with their relentless smalls also getting involved. Brent Daniels was as crafty as ever with four goals, while Toby Greene and debutant Harvey Thomas were immense with their pressure.

But yet again it was their defensive ability that set the tone. Sam Taylor and Connor Idun were brick walls from the back, and the returning Nick Haynes continues to turn back the clock after earning his way back into the team.

The night was undoubtedly one Collingwood would rather forget with their inability to capitalise on several big opportunities. In the third quarter, they had 15 inside 50s and were unable to convert that dominance into a single goal.

The Pies were outrun, outgunned and outlasted in front of the fifth-highest crowd at ENGIE Stadium in their history. The Giants talked the talk and backed it up with one of the most dominant wins against a reigning premier in history.

And if they weren’t already, the team who play on a “showground for livestock” are well in contention to be one of the teams to beat in 2024.

Originally published as Young Giants walk the walk after talking the talk against reigning premiers Collingwood