A lightning delay and the brilliant career-best performances of two youngsters pushing for their AFL debuts were the key talking points of the GIANTS’ impressive 44-point win over the Saints in round one of the VFL on Saturday.
Played at GIANTS HQ prior to the AFL clash between the sides down the road at ENGIE Stadium, the GIANTS led the VFL clash at every change and despite a 30-minute lightning delay in the third term proved too good for the visitors, running out 17.16 (118) to 10.14 (74) winners at home.
A host of AFL-listed GIANTS put their hand up for AFL selection with strong showings in the win, headlined by second-year duo Jack Ough (36 disposals, two goals) and Ollie Hannaford (31 disposals, three goals) who both shone to seemingly become one step closer to their AFL debuts.
The duo – who both set VFL career-highs in both disposals and goals – were involved in everything in the win, with Ough’s trademark composure and ability in traffic a standout while Hannaford’s ability to find the footy across half-forward and hit the scoreboard was crucial to the result.
Boom VFL recruits James Bell (36 disposals, 11 inside 50s, seven score involvements) and Harvey Hooper (28 disposals, two goals, seven inside 50s, 10 score involvements) were instrumental in their first outings as GIANTS as they showcased just how handy their acquisitions will be for the club’s VFL side this season.
Other AFL GIANTS who performed strongly were versatile utility James Leake (26 disposals, six score involvements), exciting defender Leek Aleer (25 disposals, five score involvements), dynamic mid-forward Toby McMullin (21 disposals, seven marks, one goal), and exciting draftee Riley Hamilton (18 disposals, two goals).
Ruck Nick Madden (11 disposals, 40 hit-outs, five marks, eight score involvements) also had strong moments against the Saints as he pushes for more AFL opportunities.
VFL forward Izaac Hughes (three goals) was also crucial to the result as he and his skipper Ryan Hebron (three goals) combined for six majors, with Hebron in particular energising his side with a big third term following the lightning delay.
Louie Montgomery (30 disposals, eight rebound 50s) was a key performer down back, while Declan Fitzgerald (24 disposals) and Jaxon East (21 disposals) looked right at home in their VFL debuts.
Despite fielding eight new faces, the GIANTS were in sync from the get-go on Saturday as they kicked the first three goals of the match to jump out to a 13-point lead at the first break.
Hooper’s fantastic debut started in red-hot fashion as he kicked the first goal of the day after brilliantly roving off the hands of some clinical ruck work from Nick Madden before snapping truly to kickstart proceedings.
Tom Hitchens – a late inclusion for AFL emergency Conor Stone – kept the momentum rolling with his first major soon after, before Hamilton kicked his first of two for the day in an impressive showing from the exciting draftee.
At the other end of the ground it was Aleer who was leading the way early for the GIANTS as he dominated the air to nullify countless attacking entries from the Saints in the first term.
While the likes of Bell and Ough were dominating around the contest early, draftee Oskar Taylor’s dash and dare off half-back was eye-catching early on as he displayed the traits which saw the GIANTS swoop on him with pick 15 in last year’s draft.
While both sides were wasteful throughout the first term it was the GIANTS who made the most of their opportunities early to hold a 3.6 (24) to 1.5 (11) lead over the misfiring visitors at the first break.
A seesawing second term saw the sides go goal-for-goal in an exciting seven-goal quarter which saw the GIANTS narrowly extend their lead.
Hughes had the highlight of the second term after taking a hanger 25m out before kicking truly for the first major of the quarter.
After the Saints responded with their second major of the day it was Ough who continued his strong start with his first goal before Hamilton kicked his second either side of two Saints goals.
A 50m penalty on the stroke of half-time then took Hughes to the goal square as he kicked his second to bridge the gap out to 20 at the half.
The third term was a long and electric one, and by long we mean it – with the official timekeeper listing the term at 63 minutes thanks to the 30-minute lightning delay.
The term was nine minutes old when the umpires called a halt to play and sent both teams to the sheds for cover due to nearby lightning strikes.
After the mandatory break, blues skies appeared and play resumed. Hebron kicked two huge captain’s goals either side of a second goal for Ough to extend the lead to a game-high six goals late in the third term.
While the Saints pegged one back soon after, Hannaford continued his standout game with an opportunistic goal thanks to some grunt work from Bell to give the GIANTS a 36-point lead at the final break.
The last stanza was a nervy one for the GIANTS who had to dig deep and show some resolve as the Saints threatened a final-quarter comeback.
With the game seemingly over, the Saints kicked three goals in the blink of an eye to cut the 36-point deficit in half just nine minutes into the final term.
However, the GIANTS stood tall in response as Triple H entered the game, with Hughes, Hebron, and Hooper kicking three goals between them in quick succession to put the game out of reach for the visitors.
McMullin soon added another before Hannaford capped of his starring performance with back-to-back goals to put the icing on the impressive eight-goal win to start the season.
The GIANTS will now look to continue their winning ways in the VFL in Melbourne when they head south for an exciting clash with the Pies at Victoria Park on Friday afternoon, prior to the AFL battle between the clubs at Marvel.
VFL ROUND 1
GIANTS 3.6 7.10 11.12 17.16 (118)
Saints 1.5 4.8 5.12 10.14 (74)
GOALKICKERS
GIANTS: Ollie Hannaford 3, Izaac Hughes 3, Ryan Hebron 3, Riley Hamilton 2, Harvey Hooper 2, Jack Ough 2, Tom Hitchens, Toby McMullin
Saints: Billy Richardson 2, Jonah Campigli 2, Christian Algeri, Isaac Keeler, Liam Gunson, Tyson Nagel, Kye Fincher, Patrick Said
