GREENE’S RED RAGE IN DERBY
FEISTY MID AT HIS BEST IN A THRILLER
HARD nut Toby Greene turned on his bad-boy best to inspire GWS to an 11.8 (74) to 10.13 (73) elimination final thriller over Sydney in Launceston and extend its post-season stranglehold over the Swans.
It was the third time the clubs had met in the finals and the Giants’ tight defence, speed through the middle and options up forward sank the unlucky Swans.
Greene was electric, playing an influential game for the Giants, kicking 3.1 and earning a free kick in the dying seconds that ensured the Swans did not have another scoring shot.
He is likely to answer to an incident in which he appeared to make contact with field umpire Matt Stevik as he walked to the three quartertime huddle.
It was the only blemish on a game where his X-factor was worth more than possessions for one of the AFL’s most controversial players.
The Swans were as devastated as the Giants were jubilant.
“They were coming and we were holding on for dear life,” GWS skipper Stephen Coniglio said.
“We had to find a way and I’m just so proud of the boys.”
It was a confidence boost for the team that started the season 0-3, has been on the road for 10 weeks, which included its next opponent, Geelong, three weeks ago.
The Swans had what they wanted, jumping out of the blocks, kicking three of the first five goals but a Tim Taranto goal after the siren made it 20-20 at the first break.
Despite the “Buddy” road show ramping up at the other end with Lance Franklin kicking three straight, GWS broke the game open in the second quarter.
They kicked five of the next six goals, two to Harry Himmelberg, and three of them from forward stoppages making GWS the fourth-best in the AFL this season, to lead by 23 at the long break.
A John Longmire rocket had the desired response in the third when skipper Luke Parker inspired a resurgence that had the Swans back to within two goals until Giant Jesse Hogan marked and kicked his second after the three-quarter-time siren to put GWS ahead by 19 entering the last.
Isaac Heeney kicked the only two goals of the last quarter but the Swans hit the post twice and could not quite close the gap.
In the first half Greene only touched it six times but the result was his 3.1 and near panic for the Swans’ defence.
Tarranto, Harry Perryman and Josh Kelly were the driving force in a devastating running game, and key forward Zach Sproule kicked two majors.
Sam Reid had his hands full of Franklin, who ended with four goals and needs another four to hit the magic 1000 milestone next year.
Giants had a scare when Hogan rolled his ankle in a marking contest. He stood up holding the ankle but played out the game with 2.2 from 10 disposals and eight marks.
After winning five games last season, Sydney exposed half of its team to post-season action for the first time.
While half of the Giants had grand final experience from 2017, 11 Swans made their finals debut, and nine of them were aged 22-or-under.