A tough day against the arch enemy saw the GIANTS suffer their first VFL loss in a month as they fell agonisingly short of another thrilling comeback win to go down by 10 points to the Swans under the bright lights of the SCG on Saturday night.

Played as a curtain closer to the club’s AFL clash with the Swans, the GIANTS entered the match having won three in a row and their last two matches through impressive comebacks, and they threatened to do it once more on Saturday until the Swans settled late.

Trailing by four goals entering the final term, the GIANTS looked done and dusted in a scrappy affair until four unanswered goals in the blink of an eye turned the game on its head to set up a thrilling finale.

A brilliant soccer goal out of mid-air from dangerous small forward Matt Harms started the GIANTS’ surge before Toby McMullin skilfully set up Conor Stone for his third major and then Harry Rowston kicked a classy goal off one step from just inside 50 to have the Swans sweating.

Xavier O’Halloran - playing in his first VFL game of the year - added to the theatre moments later when the hard-nosed midfielder kicked the GIANTS’ fourth unanswered goal inside the first nine minutes of the final term to turn a 23-point deficit into a one-point GIANTS lead.

While their feathers were ruffled, the Swans finally hit back moments later to regain the lead as James Lugsdin kicked his third to give his side a five-point buffer with only half a quarter left.

When teammate Joel Hamling extended the lead to 10 with his third major at the 22-minute mark, it looked like the Swans had finally put the GIANTS to rest until Max Gruzewski kicked a brilliant check side at the 31-minute mark to cut the lead to under a goal with just seconds left.

Another thrilling comeback wasn’t to be for the GIANTS however as the Swans won the all-important final centre clearance which ultimately saw Lugsdin run into an open goal to seal the game as the Swans hung on for a 12.13 (85) to 11.9 (75) win.

Several AFL-listed GIANTS continued to press their claims for senior selection despite the tough loss, with Nick Haynes (38 disposals, 14 marks) starring down back once again, while Harry Rowston (28 disposals, one goal) was strong in the middle in an enthralling match-up often alongside Swans star Luke Parker.

Stone also continued his stellar VFL form, with the powerful mid-forward kicking three goals for the fourth straight game to go along with 16 disposals.

O’Halloran (23 touches, one goal, four tackles) was also strong in conditions that suited the tough midfielder, while Gruzewski finished with three majors as he continues to push his claim for an AFL debut.

While not the crazy numbers and same influence as his past two weeks, ruck Nick Madden certainly played his part on Saturday, finishing with 13 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles, 31 hit-outs and a goal.

The GIANTS’ VFL side will now look to rebound with a win over Frankston at Blacktown International SportsPark next Saturday.

VFL Round 6

GIANTS: 3.3.   4.6.    6.8.   11.9 (75)
Swans:   4.3.   6.6.    9.13. 12.13 (85)

Goals

GIANTS: Gruzewski 3, Stone 3, Gothard, Harms, Madden, O’Halloran, Rowston
Swans: Lugsdin 4, Hamling 3, Cleary, Konstanty, Mitchell, Parker, Vickery