It was the ideal masterpiece from the GIANTS greatest ever.
On his special afternoon, in his 250th game, Toby Greene was on a one-man mission to prove his place not only as the best GIANT in the brief history of the club, but that it would be a title he would retain for some time yet.
Greene's heroics were as unique, and typically Toby, as ever. Not content to simply change the outcome of the game in attack, as he's done so often before, he chose to step into an undermanned midfield and produce a prolific performance reminiscent of the brash youngster that first stepped through the doors of the club.
The milestone man finished with 28 disposals, three goals, 13 score involvements, six clearances, four tackles and six inside-50s to overwhelmingly inspire the side's sensational and gritty 17.8 (110) to 12.10 (82) win.
He had help, particularly forward of the ball, with the likes of Jesse Hogan (nine disposals, four goals), Jake Riccardi (nine disposals, three goals), Callum Brown (nine disposals, three goals) and Aaron Cadman (eight disposals, two goals) all ensuring Greene's midfield move wasn't felt on the scoreboard.
This time, though, Greene's influence was necessary. Leading a side that had lost four of its last five games – and had lost five of its last six at Marvel Stadium – the captain's performance was a required one. He knew it early, as well, kicking two goals in the first quarter as the match turned into a 10-goal shootout by quarter-time.
Carlton – led by a recalled Sam Docherty (30 disposals, one goal) and the forward potency of Charlie Curnow (12 disposals, three goals) had contributed to the scoring, but perhaps should have grabbed the match by the scruff of its neck throughout a second quarter it largely controlled.
However, despite enjoying the bulk of the play, the Blues kicked just 1.5 for the second quarter. When both Brown and Riccardi added late goals to close the opening half, momentum had swung in favour of the visitors. The lead, so often seesawing, surged in the GIANTS' direction.
While the GIANTS had been good value for their lead, finishing the match with five multiple goalkickers, the Blues had also been masters of their own demise. Just when Michael Voss' side had looked to stabilise things in the third quarter, reducing the deficit to just three points at one stage, they coughed up their chance.
A turnover at half-back from Harry McKay was gleefully gobbled up by Callan Ward, before another misplaced entry kick – this time from Adam Saad – saw the GIANTS move clear in transition and add another from Hogan. It was starting to once again look like that kind of afternoon for Carlton, the type that has blighted much of 2025.
That was summed up in the final 14 seconds. Jesse Motlop's goal, on the stroke of three-quarter time, had seemingly put the hosts in touch going into the final break. But then, in an instant, Riccardi added his third as the buzzer sounded to give the GIANTS crucial breathing space once more.
If it felt like a pattern was unfolding, that's because it was. Just moments later, Cooper Lord's snap brought a baying Blues crowd back into the contest. It was followed, though, by a remarkable Kieren Briggs hack from a ball-up that stunned the crowd at Marvel Stadium.
While that went close to summing up the contest, what happened next proved to be the perfect reflection. With the game begging to be killed off, up stepped Greene once again.
Marking tight on the boundary line, the GIANTS skipper wheeled around and then finished. Arms aloft, it was a demonstration of all his champion qualities.
CARLTON 5.1 6.6 9.9 12.10 (82)
GIANTS 5.2 8.4 12.5 17.8 (110)
GOALS
Carlton: Curnow 3, Fogarty 2, Cripps, Hollands, White, Docherty, Motlop, Lord, Cerra
GIANTS: Hogan 4, Brown 3, Riccardi 3, Greene 3, Cadman 2, Ward, Briggs
BEST
Carlton: Cripps, Cerra, Docherty, Walsh, Haynes, Lord
GIANTS: Greene, Whitfield, Ash, Jones, Hogan, Green, Thomas
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
GIANTS: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Jaxon Binns (replaced Blake Acres at three-quarter time)
GIANTS: Harry Rowston (replaced Cody Angove in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 36,468 at Marvel Stadium
