Walyalup has brushed aside lingering doubts over the impact of its attacking weapons as livewire duo Shai Bolton and Michael Frederick sparked a thumping 34-point win over a lacklustre GIANTS side on Saturday.
The Dockers strangled the GIANTS’ ball movement but took time to put the hosts away until a six-goal blitz in the second half set up a breakthrough 13.17 (95) to 8.13 (61) victory at ENGIE Stadium.
Prized recruit Bolton put the full spread of his immense talents on display for his new club as a forward-half threat while being just as critical in linking the Dockers' transitions when the game was on the line.
Bolton finished with 24 disposals including 12 contested possessions while booting three goals including a team-lifter when smothering Lachie Whitfield in a tackle then slotting a difficult set shot.
Frederick was just as pivotal to the Dockers snapping their hoodoo at the GIANTS' home after losing on all of their previous four visits by an average 46 points, as the zippy forward stepped up as an unlikely focal point with four marks inside 50 during the early exchanges and finishing with three goals.
Isaiah Dudley was another to light up the Dockers' forward half until subbed out in the final term as the visitors brought a X-factor that the GIANTS sorely missed.
Luke Jackson shook off a week of speculation over his future at the Dockers as he shouldered the load in the ruck and appeared to relish spending more time at the coalface in an entertaining battle with Kieren Briggs.
The Dockers big man gathered 21 disposals with seven clearances as a dominant presence around the stoppages while edging Briggs (13, 3) 32-26 for hitouts to again prove that he is more than capable as a first-choice ruck.
Caleb Serong (36 disposals, eight clearances) and Andrew Brayshaw (30, 3) were at their brilliant best in the engine room as Jackson regularly gave them first use of the ball, while Neil Erasmus (19, 5) made the most of his opportunity to line up in the starting 22.
The GIANTS found it hard to get their run and gun game style going as the Dockers stifled their ball movement out of the back half and locked down on their prime movers in the midfield.
Finn Callaghan did what he could to get the GIANTS up and running with 24 disposals and seven clearances though the midfielder was fortunate to play out the game after copping a nasty blow to his shoulder moments after the three-quarter time siren sounded.
Lachie Ash (29) and Lachie Whitfield (25) racked up the possessions in typical style though lacked the pace and penetration to open up the Dockers through the midfield.
A trio of consolation goals ensured the GIANTS were not held to their lowest score at their home ground in the 100th match at the venue but the worry remains over how they can move the ball forward to boot bigger scores.
GIANTS 2.4 4.5 4.10 8.13 (61)
WALYALUP 3.4 5.10 8.15 13.17 (95)
GOALS
GIANTS: Jones 2, Brown 2, Hogan, Greene, Green, Cadman
Walyalup: Frederick 3, Bolton 3, Amiss 2, Voss, Treacy, Simpson, Reid, Banfield
BEST
GIANTS: Callaghan, Ash, Jones, Whitfield, Green
Walyalup: Bolton, Serong, Frederick, Jackson, Brayshaw, Clark, Switkowski
INJURIES
GIANTS: McMullin (adductor)
Walyalup: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
GIANTS: Harvey Thomas (replaced Toby McMullin at half-time)
Walyalup: Bailey Banfield (replaced Isaiah Dudley in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: TBC at Engie Stadium
