The GIANTS sit in fifth spot on the Smithy’s VFL ladder at the conclusion of round seven after a tough 51-point loss to the Bombers at Tom Wills Oval on Sunday. 

Fielding just seven AFL-listed GIANTS due to a host of injuries and the late omission of Harry Rowston (illness), the GIANTS fought hard for much of Sunday’s contest and even led at the main break before a Bomber blitz in the third term helped see the visitors run out 17.12 (114) to 8.15 (63) winners. 

After leading by two points at half-time despite wasting many of their chances in front of goal, it was the third term that proved costly for the GIANTS as the Bombers bombarded them with seven unanswered goals in the quarter to turn the GIANTS’ slim lead into a 40-point deficit at the final change.  

With the wind in their sails the visitors added another four majors to the GIANTS’ two in the final term as Essendon ran out strong winners on the road.  

It was a tough way to end what up until half-time had been a brave performance for the GIANTS who started strongly but failed to convert their opening half dominance onto the scoreboard. 

It was a case of Déjà vu early on in Sunday’s contest which started in eerily similar fashion to the GIANTS’ VFL clash with the Kangaroos at Tom Wills Oval a fortnight earlier which saw coach Robbie Chancellor’s side waste countless opportunities in front of goal. 

After registering eight straight behinds before their first goal in that game two weeks ago – and kicking 2.10 in the first term - this time it took six behinds before the GIANTS finally broke through for a major as some brilliance and unselfish play from Riley Hamilton and Ryan Hebron helped Harvey Hooper break the drought and give the GIANTS some much-needed reward on the scoreboard to match their efforts further afield.  

Despite Hooper’s goal, and his side leading most key metrics, the GIANTS’ inability to capitalise in front of goal early - and conversely the Bombers’ ability to make the most of their opportunities - saw them trail 1.8 (14) to 3.3 (21) at the first break.  

Jack Ough, Harry Oliver, and Louie Montgomery were standouts in the opening term, while Finn Davis showed off his talent and his wheels with three running bounces in a brilliant passage along the wing.  

The GIANTS continued to look the better side across the ground in the second term but this time were able to make it count on the scoreboard where they added five goals to the visitor’s three take a narrow two-point lead into the main break following a fiery ending to the first half. 

One of those to hit the scoreboard in the term was exciting draftee Riley Hamilton – who finished with three for the day to make it multiple goals in all six VFL games so far this season. 

Meanwhile the final goal of the opening half was a meaningful one as Harry Oliver converted after the half-time siren from a high tackle free kick to give the GIANTS their first lead since the opening minutes as tempers flared and a scuffle broke out following the big hit on Oliver.  

Unfortunately for the GIANTS their hard work in the first half was undone when play resumed and they were made to pay for their earlier inaccuracies as they watched the Bombers convert with deadly accuracy with 7.1 in the term compared to the GIANTS’ single behind to set up a match-winning seven-goal lead at the final change. 

While Hamilton added his third in the final term and Callum Brown launched a bomb from outside 50, the Bombers added four more of their own to register a strong win away from home.  

Despite the loss there were some strong performances from the GIANTS on Sunday, with youngster Jack Ough leading the way in a brilliant performance as he registered a new VFL career-high with 36 disposals to go along with eight clearances, eight tackles and a brilliant pirouette out of traffic in the second term.  

Brown (20 disposals, two goals, six marks, five hit-outs, four clearances) also did his chances of an AFL recall no harm, with his speed and power on display playing both up forward and in the ruck. 

Hamilton (10 disposals, three goals) was another key contributor as he showed off his class as well as some special Mother’s Day goal celebrations. 

VFL duo Harvey Hooper (28 disposals, one goal) and Jaxon East (26 disposals, six tackles, six clearances) were also strong contributors, as were AFL-listed duo Conor Stone (20 disposals, eight marks) and Hary Oliver (18 disposals, four tackles, one goal). 

Joey Delana (18 disposals, six tackles) made the most of some time in the middle and provided a spark around the ball, while Louie Montgomery (19 disposals, five tackles) continued his stellar form off half back.  

VFL skipper Ryan Hebron (18 disposals, nine marks) never stopped presenting and was a strong target ahead of the footy all day, while at the other end Nick Kelly (15 disposals, eight intercepts, six marks) was defiant in defence.  

Meanwhile VFL debutant Reeve Simmons never stopped trying to finish with 11 disposals and 25 hit-outs.  

The GIANTS, who sit at 4-2 on the season, will look to bounce back against the Zebras in Sandringham on Sunday afternoon.  

VFL ROUND 7 

GIANTS 1.8 6.9 6.10 8.15 (63) 

Bombers 3.3 6.7 13.9 17.12 (114) 

GOALKICKERS   

GIANTS: Riley Hamilton 3, Callum Brown 2, Harvey Hooper, Lachlan Grubb, Harry Oliver 

Bombers: Jade Gresham 4, Hussien El Achkar 3, Harry Jones 2, Thomas Edwards 2, Jared Eckersley 2, Elijah Tsatas, Liam McMahon, Jackson Hately, Kristian Ferronato