A starring best-on-ground performance from boom recruit Clayton Oliver led an undermanned and youthful GIANTS side to an impressive 35-point win over Collingwood in their match simulation clash in Bundoora on Friday.
While some emerging youngsters had their moments in the sun in the searing heat in Bundoora, it was Oliver who shone brightest in his first game in GIANTS colours as the three-time All Australian dominated around the ground to show he could well be on his way to rediscovering his best footy in 2026.
The first pre-season hit-out for both clubs, the GIANTS had their noses in front marginally at every break in the entertaining affair before finishing off strongly to run out 17.8 (110) to 11.9 (75) winners at La Trobe University.
Fielding an extremely young side while missing the likes of Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Lachie Ash, and Stephen Coniglio following their Origin duties, as well as young star forward Aaron Cadman [managed], it was Oliver and a host of youngsters who helped lead the way in front of a vocal crowd of more than 2,500 people on Friday afternoon.
While the usual suspects of Lachie Whitfield, Connor Idun, Kieren Briggs (four goals) and Jake Riccardi (two goals) were all key contributors, it was the exciting form of many less experienced players which would have pleased coach Adam Kingsley the most, with Harry Rowston, Nick Madden, Harvey Thomas, Joey Delana, Joe Fonti, Phoenix Gothard, and Ollie Hannaford all impressing throughout.
However, as much as the young cohort pressed their claims for either more regular AFL opportunities or an AFL debut, it was the 205-gamer Oliver who stole the show from the get-go on Friday as he wasted no time in announcing himself in his new colours.
Racking up clearances and possessions at will – and with Rowston not far behind as his main sidekick – Oliver set the tone early with his clean hands and his ability to win the footy in congestion as the GIANTS jumped out to a 10-point lead at the first break in an enthralling 10-goal opening term.
Briggs was one of the recipients of Oliver’s work further up the ground, with the big man spending more time up forward early in the clash where he kicked three goals in the first quarter alone on his way to a four-goal haul before being managed late.
As well as Oliver and Briggs’ hot starts, Jake Stringer also provided one of the highlights of the day in the opening term as he flew high for a hanger inside 50 before kicking truly to help the GIANTS continue their strong opener.
While Oliver and Rowston continued to star, the likes of Riccardi, Hannaford and Thomas worked their way into the game in the second as Delana soccered one through for a goal before setting Thomas up for a goal of his own as the GIANTS held on to their 10-point lead at the main break.
The third term was less of a track meet and a more of a grind as both sides found it tougher to score, with Callum Brown and Madden the sole goal kickers for the GIANTS in the term despite still carrying a nine-point lead into the final stanza.
Madden – who spent time both in the ruck and up forward – hit the scoreboard again to start the last term before leaving his best for last as he showed off his booming right foot with a long-range bomb from well outside the arc late in the game to finish with three for the day.
Gothard also got in on the action with a final quarter snag following another brilliant inside 50 entry from Oliver, before Whitfield put the icing on the cake of the win with a rare major in the dying minutes as the GIANTS cruised to a six-goal win in hot conditions.
The GIANTS’ only downside for the day was suspected hamstring injuries to Brent Daniels and Cody Angove, while Callum Brown came from the ground late in the game after rolling his ankle.
The GIANTS will next face off with the Swans in a huge pre-season Derby in six days' time in an AAMI Community Series clash at Henson Park on Thursday, February 26 at 4:10pm.
GIANTS Goalkickers:
Briggs 4, Madden 3, Riccardi 2, Gothard 2, Thomas, Whitfield, Stringer, Delana, Brown, Gruzewski.
