‘MORE TO FINAL’ THAN BATTLE IN MIDFIELD
GIANTS coach Leon Cameron says winning the midfield battle in Saturday’s knockout final against the understrength Swans will be “massive” but isn’t the only factor.
Cameron’s side suddenly has an even bigger advantage in the respective on-ball brigades, with Sydney unable to select prime movers Callum Mills (Achilles) and Josh Kennedy (hamstring).
On the flip side, Greater Western Sydney welcomes back captain Stephen Coniglio (toe), Shane Mumford (back), Tom Green (hamstring) and Sam Reid (ankle) for the do-or-die finals clash.
Short-listed All-Australian Jacob Hopper, Josh Kelly, Callan Ward and Tim Taranto will lead the Giants’ charge in the middle.
Chad Warner and James Bell are the Swans’ reinforcements, but plenty will ride on star midfielder Luke Parker’s performance.
The clubs split their two meetings this season, but Sydney won the last one after rallying from a 35-point deficit, on the back of a startling contested possession turnaround.
The Giants won that area by 24 in the first half that night before losing it by 22 in the last two quarters.
John Longmire’s Swans boast a 9-1 record when they win the contested possession count, but are only 6-6 when they lose it.
“They happen to be missing a couple, but let’s be honest – their replacements are pretty goddamn good as well,” Cameron said.
“It’s a huge battle. I understand it seems simple on that (contested possession) statistic. I think there are a number of other factors that hurt us.
“They got their ball movement on their terms after half-time and we weren’t good enough to hold that.
“We need to make sure that’s a clear focus, because if you allow Sydney to go through the middle of the ground and move the ball well, then we’re in for a long day.”
Cameron also didn’t buy into the pre-match turnover (Swans) v stoppage (Giants) team narrative, saying both sides had evolved in other areas.
Coniglio and Green, in particular, are returning off limited matches in recent times, but are expected to play as many minutes as any other midfielder on Saturday.
GWS’s excellent finish to the season earned it a finals berth and banished memories of the “daunting” 0-3 start, but the coach said that his players were far from satisfied.
“We’re in a cutthroat final,” Cameron said on Friday.
“We’ve got as much to lose as what Melbourne, Geelong, Port and Sydney has.
“We know we’ve been playing cut-throat finals the last three weeks and we’ve got another one
(on Saturday).”