A clutch goal from Joey Delana and a brilliant five-goal performance from Louie Montgomery helped the GIANTS claim their biggest scalp of the VFL season to date with a thrilling 12-point win over the third-placed Hawks in Box Hill on Saturday.  

Played in cold and foggy conditions on a typical Melbourne winter morning, the GIANTS had their noses slightly in front for most of the day but found themselves locked in a nailbiter when a Hawks behind tied the scores at 96 apiece at the 18-minute mark of the final term. 

Needing a hero, it was Delana, and then Montgomery, who stepped up – with Delana breaking the deadlock with a brilliant 45m set shot finish from a tough angle to give the GIANTS a six-point lead approaching time on in the final term. 

Delana’s clutch goal proved to be the difference in the end as the visitor’s failed to register another score, with Montgomery putting the icing on the cake of a brilliant performance with his fifth major in the dying seconds to put the exclamation mark on the 17.6 (108) to 14.12 (96) victory.  

The huge road win saw the GIANTS move to 8-4 on the season to leapfrog the Hawks and now sit in third place on the VFL table as the race to finals heats up.  

The only downside to Saturday’s win was an injury blow to skipper Ryan Hebron who hurt his elbow in a collision, with the outcome of the injury to be determined in the coming days.  

With five majors, and two coming in a clutch final term, Montgomery was the standout for the GIANTS in Saturday’s win, with the son of a gun a threat all day in his new role ahead of the footy.  

Montgomery, the son of GIANTS Assistant coach and Port Adelaide premiership player Brett Montgomery, has starred predominantly across half back this season but has shown his versatility in recent weeks with equally as damaging performances in attack.  

Delana was another crucial performer, with his final-quarter heroics capping off a strong day for the exciting youngster who finished with three goals to go along with 12 disposals and five tackles as he pushes his case for an AFL recall.  

In the middle it was a trio of familiar faces leading the way, with Jack Ough (27 disposals, seven tackles, 10 clearances), Harry Rowston (26 disposals, five tackles, six clearances), and James Bell (24 disposals, six tackles, five clearances, one goal) starring as they continue to play crucial roles to the success of the club’s VFL side this season.  

Harvey Hooper (23 disposals, eight inside 50s, one goal) was another to impress yet again as he continues to prove to be one of the signings of the summer across the VFL.  

Young cult hero Riley Hamilton (12 disposals, 2.3) was another to have a significant impact, while James Leake (25 disposals, nine intercepts) and Oskar Taylor (23 disposals) were strong behind the ball as usual.  

Sam McMkeen (18 disposals) was also a solid contributor, as was Cody Angove (19 disposals) who looked increasingly comfortable in just his third game of the season, with his run and carry a highlight throughout Saturday’s contest.  

Huge Birks added two goals from limited opportunities, while young ruck Logan Smith made a promising return in limited minutes in his first game of the season after dealing with patella tendinopathy.  

Saturday’s win was built off a strong start from the GIANTS who got the jump on the home side through Montgomery in a sign of things to come as the damaging utility nailed a classy set shot from the boundary in the opening minutes.   

Some Hooper brilliance out of the middle found Birks soon after for his first major before some dash down the wing from Angove saw him link up with Montgomery who found Lachlan Grubb as he made it three unanswered goals to start the day.  

In a strange opening term full of momentum swings, the Hawks finally hit the scoreboard at the 10-minute mark which kickstarted a run of four straight majors for the home side who after their sluggish start soon found themselves a goal up late in the term. 

However, Hamilton got the GIANTS back on track through an opportunistic crumbing goal late in the term before Montgomery kicked his second to continue his fast start.  

Hebron capped off a strong opening term for his side after snapping brilliantly late in the term to give the GIANTS a 12-point lead at the first break prior to his unfortunate arm injury.  

Robbie Chancellor’s side continued where it left off when played resumed as Bell hit the scoreboard before Delana soccered one through to make it five unanswered goals across the first and second quarters to extend the GIANTS’ lead to a game-high 24 points early in the second term.  

After the Hawks responded with a pair of much-needed goals it was Cameron Edwards who steadied things for the GIANTS with a brilliant set shot finish from the boundary to push the lead back to 17 nearing the midway point of the second term.  

Delana added his second soon after with a special finish on his left foot from the pocket before Box Hill responded with three of the final four goals of the term to cut the GIANTS' lead to 11 at the main break. 

The GIANTS’ sole goal in the Hawks’ fast finish went to Montgomery who kicked a nice running goal to cap off a brilliant three-goal opening half which saw the sides combine for 20 majors in a highly entertaining half of footy.  

With the fog clearing up after the break, the sides traded blows for most of the third quarter until the Hawks edged their noses in front with the final kick of the term. 

Hamilton and Birks were the GIANTS’ two goalkickers in the which saw the sides go goal for goal until Matt Hill kicked back-to-back goals for Box Hill as tempers flared seconds before the three-quarter-time siren. 

Hill’s second goal came after a scuffle broke out following his first successful set shot which saw him awarded a free kick from the exact same spot after some push and shove with Hooper – a free kick he calmly converted to make it two goals from two kicks to give the Hawks their first lead since the first term. 

With the game on the line entering the final term it was Hooper who made amends for his late-quarter indiscretion with an important goal early in the final term before Delana and Montgomery stood tall to get the GIANTS across the line.  

The GIANTS will look to consolidate their top four spot when they head to the Riverina to host Coburg in Narrandera on Sunday. 

VFL ROUND 14 

Hawks 4.1 9.4 13.7 14.12 (96) 

GIANTS 6.1 11.3 13.5 17.6 (108) 

GOALKICKERS   

Hawks: Brodie McLaughlin 2, Sam Butler 2, Will Pewtress, Will Kellar, Stu Horner, Matt Hill, Oliver Greeves 

GIANTS: Louie Montgomery 5, Josaia Delana 3, Riley Hamilton 2, Lachlan Grubb, James Bell, Cameron Edwards, Hugo Birks, Ryan Hebron, Harvey Hooper