Strong performance from several AFL-listed GIANTS helped the orange tsunami surge past Essendon for a crucial 21-point win in an entertaining VFL clash at Windy Hill on Friday afternoon.

With less than a goal separating the sides at each of the first three breaks and leading by just four points at the final change, the GIANTS saved their best for last with an impressive four goal to one final quarter to run out 15.11 (101) to 12.8 (80) winners on the road.

An important mix of AFL and VFL talent helped the GIANTS bring the Bombers down on Friday, with VFL-listed duo James Lugsdin and Louie Montgomery combining for three of the side’s four final-quarter goals to play key roles in the win.

While Lugsdin and Montgomery helped put the finishing touches on the gutsy win, a host of AFL talent also played pivotal roles throughout Friday’s matchup, with emerging ruckman Nick Madden and young gun Harvey Thomas both starring alongside late inclusion Harry Rowston.

Madden in particular dominated from the get-go on Friday, with the hulking young ruck finishing with an incredible stat line of 26 disposals, 32 hit outs, nine marks, five tackles, six clearances, and two goals in a monster display.

Rowston – a late inclusion to the VFL side after playing limited minutes as the AFL sub on Thursday night – also starred on Friday with 26 touches, seven marks, six tackles, and five clearances, while Thomas was a class above across half forward to play a critical role in the win with 17 disposals, four tackles and three goals as well as playing a hand in several other scoring chains.

Utility James Leake was also strong across the day - and particularly in the second half – on his way to a match-high 35 disposals to go along with eight tackles and eight clearances to press his claims for an AFL recall.

Phoenix Gothard was another who made his presence felt on Friday with the best game of his season to finish with 17 touches, 10 tackles, eight score involvements, and 2.2 in a starring performance from the zippy small forward.

Fellow livewire Joey Delana (13 touches, three tackles and a goal) also had his moments as he combined beautifully with Gothard and Thomas to cause headaches for the Bombers’ backline.

Meanwhile Josh Fahey provided plenty of run out of the back half to finish with 25 touches and five marks, while Jacob Wehr backed up last week’s best-on-ground performance with 21 touches, six inside 50s, and three clearances.

Draftee Harry Oliver (17 touches), young ruck Logan Smith (11 touches, 20 hit outs, one goal) and veteran Lachlan Keeffe (15 touches, 10 marks, one goal) also played their roles in the important team win.

For the VFL-listed contingent it was the aforementioned Louie Montgomery who led the way with a brilliant performance as he kicked two clutch final-quarter goals to cap off a starring 25-disposal, eight-mark, five-clearance outing.

GIANTS Academy young gun Ethan Matthews was also impressive once again as he finished with a new VFL-high 21 touches, while Perry Lewis-Smith was strong around the ball to finish with 19 touches, five marks, and four tackles.

Billy McGee Galimberti (17 touches) continued to be one of the side’s most important VFL-listed pieces, while Mitchell Blow and Sam McMeeken both kicked important majors to help topple the Bombers.

Lugsdin (eight touches, two goals) also had some strong moments throughout – emphasised by his crucial final-quarter goal - while at the other end of the ground, skipper Ryan Hebron played a pivotal role as a key defender in a backline missing regulars Wade Derksen and Leek Aleer.

Before the GIANTS broke away in the final term there was rarely more than a kick separating the sides on Friday in an entertaining battle which started with a seesawing eight-goal opening term.

While the GIANTS got off to a strong start with two of the first three goals of the game through Madden and Thomas, a Bomber blitz saw Essendon respond with three quick goals in under five minutes to take a 10-point lead late in the first term.

Gothard helped the GIANTS respond after finishing off a nice team goal before Smith added his first major of the year to give the GIANTS a three-point lead at the first break.

The second term played out in eerily similar fashion as the first where another eight goals were kicked and once again the home side jumped out to a lead before the GIANTS reeled them back in to end the quarter in front.

Capitalising on some costly GIANTS turnovers, Essendon started the second quarter strong with the first two majors before Thomas continued his impressive start with another classy set shot finish.

Another costly GIANTS turnover however allowed the Bombers to add their third of the term and then another to extend their lead to 14 points late in the third term.

But as they’d done in the first, the GIANTS found another gear late in the term as Madden, Blow, and McMeeken all kicked important majors in red time as the GIANTS snatched back the lead to enter the sheds four points in front.

Wayne Cripps’ side carried that momentum into the second half as some creativity from Thomas found Gothard alone on the goal line for his second goal before Lusgdin followed it up with a clinical set shot to make it five in a row for the GIANTS who pushed their lead out to a game-high 16 points.

The Bombers were able to finally quell the momentum at the 21-minute mark of the third term as Saad El-Hawli kicked his third of the day to bring the lead back to 10 and breathe some life into the home side.

While the GIANTS responded through a classy finish from Delana, the re-energised Bombers refused to fall away and gave the GIANTS a taste of their own medicine – kicking three of the final four goals of the term in relatively quick succession to cut the margin to just four points at the final break.

The GIANTS managed to go to another gear in the final term however and led by Montgomery’s two crucial final-quarter goals registered a vital win to remain fourth on the VFL table.

Highlighting the importance of the win and the tightness of the VFL table, a loss for the GIANTS on Friday could have seen them fall as many as four places to eighth with just four rounds remaining.

Now sitting at 10-5 on the season and right in the hunt for finals with three games and a bye remaining, the GIANTS will next face off with the archrival Swans in a curtain raiser to the club’s huge AFL clash with the Swans on Friday night at ENGIE Stadium.

VFL Round 17

Essendon   4.1 8.2. 11.4 12.8 (80)
GIANTS      4.4 8.6 11.8 15.11 (108) 

Goalkickers:

Essendon: Scott 3, El-Hawli 3, Menzie 2, Eckersley, Brodie, Burmeister, Monteath
GIANTS: Thomas 3, Madden 2, Gothard 2, Montgomery 2, Lugsdin 2, Smith, Delana, McMeeken, Blow