The GIANTS’ VFL side made it two from two for the club on Sunday after registering a strong 30-point win over the Lions at ENGIE Stadium.
Played following the club’s record-breaking AFL win, the GIANTS’ VFL squad withheld a fast-finishing Lions outfit as the orange tsunami surged when it mattered most to run out 16.6 (102) to 10.12 (72) winners.
The GIANTS were certainly made to earn Sunday’s win which looked all but certain after Joey Delana put them 33 points up early in the third term before the Lions finally found their groove to come roaring back into the contest.
After trailing for almost the entire game outside of a five-minute patch in the opening term, the Lions kicked four straight goals either side of the last change to cut the lead to just seven points early in the final term.
While it wasn’t quite the same as the club’s record-breaking third quarter in the AFL clash prior, the GIANTS’ VFL side showcased its own brilliance with five unanswered goals in just over 11 minutes to silence the Lions’ roar and run out strong winners at home.
Leading the way for the GIANTS was a familiar face, with talented young midfielder Jack Ough absolutely everywhere to set a new VFL career-high with 40 disposals to go along with 11 marks, eight clearances, and a goal.
James Leake (30 disposals, 11 intercepts, five marks) was also fantastic behind the ball as he looks to push for a return to the AFL side, while Delana had himself a day out with 22 disposals and four goals.
Riley Hamilton (15 disposals, four marks, two goals) and Ryan Hebron (12 disposals, five marks, four goals) starred up forward with six goals between them, with Hamilton now remarkably having kicked multiple goals in all eight VFL games this year.
Draftee Oskar Taylor (28 disposals, six marks) continued his rapid development off half back, Louie Montgomery (26 disposals, eight intercepts) was strong once again, while Finn Davis (22 disposals, five marks) is looking more comfortable at the level by the minute.
Jaxon East kicked his first major as a GIANT to go along with 21 disposals, Harvey Hooper (19 disposals, one goal) was his typical classy self, while Harry Rowston (17 disposals, four tackles, four clearances, one goal) had strong moments in his return from injury.
Despite the end result it was the Lions who threw the first punch in the VFL on Sunday, with Curtis McCarthy goaling early before the GIANTS responded with back-to-back goals from Hebron and then a third through Rowston.
Holding a six-point lead at the first change, it was a seven-goal blitz from the GIANTS in the second term which broke the game open as Robbie Chancellor’s side took a 28-point lead into the main break.
The brilliant second term featured a host of highlights, with East kicking his first goal as a GIANT while Hooper nailed a set shot from a tight angle to continue his brilliant campaign.
Hebron also added a third in the superb second quarter, while Hamilton’s brilliant goalkicking exploits continued as he added two of his own to continue to be a headache for opposition defenders.
The third quarter was a tougher one for the GIANTS as the visitors kicked three goals to one to turn what looked like a comfortable GIANTS win into a dog fight entering the final term.
But with clutch goals from Delana, Hebron, and James Bell, before another major to Delana and one to Ough, the GIANTS were too good when it mattered to register their sixth win of the season to sit second on the VFL table.
The GIANTS will look to continue their strong VFL campaign on Sunday when they travel to Casey Fields to take on the Demons.
VFL ROUND 9
GIANTS 3.3 10.3 11.4 16.6 (102)
Lions 2.3 5.5 9.9 10.12 (72)
GOALKICKERS
GIANTS: Joey Delana 4, Ryan Hebron 4, Riley Hamilton 2, Harry Rowston, Jaxon East, Harvey Hooper, Riley Dillon, Jack Ough, James Bell
Lions: Cody Curtin 4, Archie Smith, Curtis McCarthy, Kyle Dunkley, James Creighton, Charlie Hewitt, Fergus McFadyen
