Last season’s number one draft pick Aaron Cadman produced his best VFL performance of the season on Saturday with a monster eight-goal haul landing the GIANTS a 76-point win over the Northern Bullants at Preston Oval.

Cadman was a class above against the Bullants, with the talented youngster displaying many of the traits which saw the GIANTS trade up in the Draft to land the athletic key forward with the number one pick.

After kicking four goals across the first three quarters, the classy 195cm forward took a stranglehold of the final term with four more majors to put an emphatic finish on the 20.11 (131) to 8.7 (55) win.

Midfielder James Peatling was also a standout in the win, accumulating a team-high 38 disposals to go along with 11 clearances and 8 tackles to continue his strong VFL form. 

Meanwhile, Braydon Preuss made a successful return to the field, with the 28-year-old finishing with 20 disposals, 26 hit outs, 11 clearances and six marks in his first game of the season after overcoming a persistent back injury.

Fellow ruckman Matt Flynn (16 disposals, 4 goals) also played a big part for the GIANTS playing primarily as a forward.

Harry Rowston (25 disposals, 7 clearances) and Cameron Fleeton (21 disposals, 8 marks) also continued their strong seasons for the GIANTS in the VFL. 

Following the win, GIANTS VFL coach Wayne Cripps said his side returned to a more GIANT-like brand of football after lowering their colours in a loss to the Swans last week.

“It was a good win and great getting the boys back playing good footy and playing our way on both sides of the ball, on both offense and defence,” Cripps said.

With just one game of the home and away season remaining, a clash with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday, the GIANTS sit just one game outside of the top 10 but with a poor percentage are highly unlikely to feature in September. 

Cripps said regardless of the finals picture he was aiming to finish the home and away season on a positive note.

“Nothing changes this weekend for us, “he said.

“It’s been an up and down year but for such a young group, both AFL-listed and VFL-listed, the boys have done a terrific job and to finish off our last game with a win would be very rewarding.” 

Cripps shared his assessment of the AFL-listed GIANTS who featured in the match.  

AFL Listed Players:

5. Aaron Cadman

8 goals, 21 disposals, 12 marks

Once again his ability to compete, his leading patterns, and his forward craft are getting better each week and he’s really starting to put together some really consistent football.

11. Brayden Preuss

20 disposals, 26 hit outs, 11 clearances, 6 marks

It was great to have him back out there and I thought he played a super game. He started super well and set the tone for us early with the way he competed both in the ruck and just aerially as well. He had some big moments, and it was a great first game back for him.

20. James Peatling

38 disposals, 8 tackles, 11 clearances  

‘JP’ was super. He had a really consistent four quarter effort on ball once again he had great energy arounds stoppage and really helped us play the way we wanted to with a bit of speed.

24. Harry Rowston

25 disposals, 1 goal, 7 clearances, 5 marks

‘Rowsto’ was good. He got back to some of that form we know he’s capable of. He’s always dangerous when he’s using that power to get himself out of congestion and he had plenty of those moments.

28. Cameron Fleeton

21 disposals, 8 marks

‘Fleets’ was playing a little bit higher up at parts which was good for him as we are developing him more as a high back to try to get our offense going. Once again he defended really well and gave us great drive on offense.

30. Matt Flynn

16 disposals, 4 goals, 11 hitouts

Once again ‘Flynny’ spent more time forward where he had a great first half and was doing a lot of selfless things. He tried to help ‘Cadsy’ [Cadman] get going and it was good to see him get his lick of the ice cream in the second half and kick four second-half goals. 

41. Nicholas Madden

5 disposals, 16 hitouts, 2 tackles

It was a bit of a different game for ‘Maddsy’ with Preuss coming back in, along with ‘Flynny’, and trying to juggle three ruckman which was difficult. So, he didn’t have as much time in there [the ruck] but as always he gave a great contest and he’s slowly building that consistency week by week.

42. Jason Gilbee

10 disposals, 1 goal

It was a tough day for wingers with the conditions, but ‘Gilbs’ is learning his craft on both sides of the ball and once again his running patterns were good.

45. Wade Derksen

7 disposals, 2 goals

It was a tough day for ‘Derk’ as he was sick so for him to push through that was a great effort. He wasn’t at his best from a physical point of view, but he still went out there and played his role for the team and had some good moments on the ball. 

VFL SHOUTOUT

Daniel Gauci

16 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles

We had a pretty youthful forward line so for him to come in and play with the energy that he brought was great. His drop of ball stuff and the pressure he applied, it’s the sort of game you just love to see from a small forward, so I’m just really pleased for him.

Other VFL Listed Players Stats:

Harvey Thomas

14 disposals, 2 goals, 4 tackles

Charlie McCormack

4 disposals

Ryan Hebron

18 disposals, 9 marks, 4 tackles

Jaelen Pavlidis

20 disposals, 3 clearances

Mitchell Ryan

11 disposals, 5 marks

Darcy Edmends

20 disposals, 4 mark, 4 clearances

Jakob Anderson

10 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles

Barry O’Connor

12 disposals, 4 marks

James Creighton

9 disposals, 7 tackles

Billy Clark 

14 disposals, 6 marks

Giorgio Varagiannis

6 disposals, 2 tackles

Taine Moraschi

10 disposals, 1 goal, 2 tackles

Dayne Posthuma

6 disposals, 4 marks