The GIANTS remain inside the top six of an extremely tight VFL ladder following a thrilling 13-point win over the Gold Coast Suns in the VFL edition of the Expansion Cup at ENGIE Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Played as a curtain raiser to the AFL clash between the clubs, an extremely tight contest saw the sides trade blows for most of the day before the GIANTS found enough fight late in the final term to hang on for a gusty 15.3 (93) to 12.8 (80) win.

Up by 12 points at the final change after a brilliant third term fightback, the GIANTS conceded three unanswered goals to start the final quarter before clutch late goals from Billy McGee Galimberti and Lachlan Keeffe saw the GIANTS snatch back the lead and hold on for a huge victory.

Down by five at the 15-minute mark of the final term after the Suns’ red-hot start, McGee Galimberti was the first to stand tall with a brilliant running goal from just inside 50 before Keeffe followed it up minutes later with a strong contested grab and goal to push the lead to seven points with 10 minutes remaining.

With their noses in front it was the GIANTS’ gutsy backline who then stood tall, with the ever-reliable Wade Derksen capping off a starring game in defence with several crucial intercept marks late in the game to stifle any chance of a Suns comeback.

Derksen finished the clash with 24 disposals and a whopping 14 marks in a brilliant defensive display from the 24-year-old.

Following Derksen’s heroics, Josh Fahey capped off his brilliant outing with a long-range bomb after the final siren to push the final margin to 13 points in an important win for the orange and charcoal.

Highlighting the depth of the gusty result, the GIANTS featured just 10 AFL-listed players in Sunday’s clash compared to the Suns’ 16.

Also key to Sunday’s win were a pair of young forwards with vastly different expectations entering the clash, with emerging key forward Max Gruzewski a beacon in attack for the GIANTS alongside newcomer Alex Swinnerton who had an incredible start to his VFL debut, with the small forward kicking three goals from his first three kicks midway through the second term.

Combining for six majors, Gruzewski finished with 13 disposals, seven marks and 3.2 in another impressive game, while Swinnerton also finished with three in a classy VFL debut from the slightly built small forward who was signed from the club’s Albury VFL Hub.

Despite the strong first halves from Gruzewski and Swinnerton, the GIANTS trailed by 10 points at the main break before the orange tsunami surged in the third term.

Kicking seven goals to two in a sizzling hot third quarter, the GIANTS turned their 10-point half-time deficit into a 12-point lead at the final change before the gritty final term.

Another to shine against the Suns on Sunday was rebounding defender Fahey who had his own footy for much of the day to finish with 32 disposals, 14 marks, and two long-range goals – including the bomb after the final siren to put the icing on the cake of the impressive win.

Midfielder Toby McMullin was also strong as he presses his claims for an AFL recall, finishing with 27 disposals, five marks, six tackles, and six clearances in a strong well-rounded performance.

Jacob Wehr also did his chances of an AFL recall no harm as he displayed his typical hard running and class with the ball to finish with 27 disposals, four clearance, four tackles,  and a goal.

Untried draftee Harry Oliver (23 disposals, four marks) was also strong yet again, while VFL-listed GIANT Louie Montgomery (27 disposals, five marks, six clearances) continued his impressive 2025 campaign.

Keeffe (10 disposals, five marks, two goals) played his role well and as well as his crucial final term goal had some other strong moments when it mattered in the last quarter to help the GIANTS secure the win.

Exciting small forward Josaia Delana (12 disposals, eight tackles, one goal) was his lively self and had some strong passages, while emerging ruckman Logan Smith (11 disposals, nine hit-outs, seven clearances) continued his promising development in an intriguing matchup against AFL-listed ruckman Ned Moyle.

McGee Galimberti was also a major contributor in the win, finishing with 19 touches and three clearances to add to his vital last-quarter goal which give the GIANTS back the lead.

Along with their AFL side, the GIANTS’ VFL program have a bye this week before taking on Werribee in Melbourne the following week on Saturday, July 5.

VFL Round 13

GIANTS   3.0  6.1 12.1 15.3 (93)

Suns    3.1  7.5  9.7  12.8 (80)

Goalkickers

GIANTS: Gruzewski 3, Swinnerton 3, Fahey 3, Keeffe 2, Wehr, Delana, McGee Galimberti, Lugsdin, Burks

Suns: Sexton 2, Lewis 2, Gulbin 2, Rosas, Moyle, Lombard, Harris, Evans, Coulson