The GIANTS’ unbeaten run to start the 2025 VFL season finally came to an end in Melbourne on Saturday as they fell to Collingwood by 11 points in a gritty and low-scoring contest in cold and wet conditions at Victoria Park.
Entering the clash atop the VFL ladder and undefeated in their opening six games, the GIANTS started hot despite the chilly conditions but were unable to capitalise on the scoreboard as well as the Pies did whose accuracy in front of goal was ultimately the difference as they came away with an 8.8 (56) to 5.15 (45) win at home.
No more than 15 points separated the sides all day in a see-sawing affair which saw the Magpies hold an 11-point lead at the final change before incredibly neither side was able to kick a goal in the final quarter as Collingwood held on to hand the GIANTS their first defeat of the VFL season.
The first half of Saturday’s contest was an interesting and frustrating one for the GIANTS who did plenty right but were unable to capitalise on the scoreboard.
It appeared the GIANTS would continue their destructive ways early on against the Pies as they dominated possession, pressure, and territory to kick the first two goals inside the opening minutes.
However, the game flipped on its head from there as the Pies piled on five straight goals to hold a 15-point lead early in the second term despite the GIANTS still on top in disposals, clearances, and inside 50s.
Needing someone to step up and convert on the scoreboard, livewire Phoenix Gothard ended the Pies’ run of goals with a clever snap before his skipper Ryan Hebron followed with a brilliant opportunistic snap of his own to cut the lead to two points late in the second term.
Despite their hard work, the GIANTS missed some opportunities in front of goal in the dying stages of the term and entered the sheds at half-time down by six points after the Pies converted from a free kick after the half-time siren.
The slim half-time deficit was no doubt a tough pill to swallow for GIANTS VFL coach Wayne Cripps whose side led in almost all key stats except for scoreboard impact, with the GIANTS holding a huge +55 advantage in disposals (209 v 154) as well as leading in clearances (20 to 14) and inside 50s (30 to 28).
Highlighting their dominance in possession, the GIANTS had the top five possession getters and eight of the top nine on the ground in an interesting opening half in which the GIANTS’ lack of polish around the goals saw them trail by a kick.
The third term was much of the same for both sides as the GIANTS continued to be wayward in front of goals to register just 1.4 in the term as opposed to the Pies who kicked 2.3 to take an 11-point lead into the final term.
With the rain arriving at the start of the final term to add to what was already a cold and slippery encounter, both sides struggled to score in an unusual finale as they combined for just six behinds as Collingwood held on for a gutsy 11-point win and become the first side to defeat the GIANTS this season.
There were plenty of strong contributors for the GIANTS despite the tough loss, with Nick Madden (25 disposals, 33 hit-outs, seven marks, seven clearances) starring on his 21st birthday alongside James Leake (39 disposals, five inside 50s, four clearances, six tackles), and untried draftee Harry Oliver (29 disposals, seven marks) who were both superb.
VFL-listed duo Marc Sheather (39 disposals, five inside 50s, four clearances) and Louie Montgomery (29 disposals, five tackles, five clearances) also continued their stellar form with brilliant performances through the middle of the ground, while AFL trio Ryan Angwin (23 disposals), Harry Rowston (30 disposals, five tackles, five clearances), and Conor Stone (23 disposals, six marks, four tackles) were all strong throughout as they push for AFL selection.
Josh Fahey (21 disposals, a goal), Leek Aleer (15 disposals, nine intercept possessions), and Wade Derksen (17 disposals, 11 marks) also played their roles well, while Nathan Wardius (15 disposals, four marks, 1.4) loomed dangerous all day to be the GIANTS’ most impactful forward despite being wasteful in front of goal.
Gothard (14 disposals, seven tackles, 1.1) also had strong moments and applied fantastic tackle pressure as he continues to work his way back from injury.
While still atop the VFL ladder, the GIANTS will look to bounce back next week when they host Port Melbourne in a special home game played in Albury where the club created a VFL Hub earlier this year.
VFL Round 8
Collingwood 4.0 6.2 8.5 8.8 (56)
GIANTS 2.3 4.8 5.12 5.15 (45)
Goalkickers
Collingwood: West 3, Mulvogue, Mahoney, Kennedy, Browne, Bennetts
GIANTS: Wardius, Rowston, Gothard, Hebron, Fahey
