Giants ready for a big scalp
GEELONG West coach Andrew Clark has urged his rivals not to write off his side in this weekend’s blockbuster against Inverleigh.
Three goals down at quarter-time, the Giants strung together 11 straight goals on Saturday in a dominant fightback to secure a 30-point win over East Geelong, after welcoming back midfielders Michael Leamer and Ryan Ganz.
“I’ve told the boys to enjoy the next hour, to have a beer but to also remember the massive challenge we have coming up,” Clark said postmatch.
“We’re backing ourselves this week — we need to beat some of these top sides because at this stage we’ve only knocked off Winchelsea (Round 1).”
Brayden Mitchell was a standout for the Giants on Saturday, booting six goals as a permanent forward.
“Brayden really enjoyed interleague playing alongside quality players, so we talked about how now he’s played in that game he needs to come back and stamp his authority,” Clark said.
“You only have to look at his contests today and with the goals he kicked I think he did.”
The Giants are desperate for a big scalp to add further weight to their push for a drought-breaking finals campaign.
They were close to ending a 17-year drought against Bell Post Hill last round, but could not pull off a miracle win, going down by four points, with Leamer and Ganz sidelined, alongside Scott Galloway (calf) and Justin White (overseas).
“After the Bell Post Hill game we sat down and had a talk across the whole group and agreed that, on our day, we can beat anybody,” Clark said.
“We proved it with Bannockburn nearly all day and we proved it against Bell Post Hill until the final kick of the game.
“But we need to win one of those first, so now we have this opportunity.”
The Giants on Saturday also welcomed back assistant coach Aaron O’Callaghan, who kicked the game’s opening goal some 420 days after reinjuring his anterior cruciate ligament in Round 1 last year.
While Galloway and White will remain out this week, the Giants’ midfield still features Ganz, Leamer, O’Callaghan and Whitley Medal contender Tom McKay.
Former Tasmanian midfielder Alex Blair, who was named as an emergency for the GDFL interleague side, was also moved to a wing on Saturday and found 22 disposals and 12 marks.