A seesawing first quarter followed by an impressive second and third term saw the GIANTS hold off a late surge from the Suns to register a crucial 13-point win in the VFL at Blacktown International Sportspark on Sunday.
The GIANTS looked to be in for a disappointing day as the Suns got off to a hot start, before the orange tsunami got to work late in the first term.
Robbie Chancellor’s side kicked eight goals to four in the second term to enter half time with a 25-point lead, following an entertaining half featuring 24 combined goals.
The GIANTS continued to surge in the third term where they added another six goals to the Suns’ two to race out to a game-high 52-point lead.
While the Suns made up ground late with a scorching hot six-goal last term, it was too little too late as the GIANTS ran out 21.7 (133) to 18.12 (120) winners in a result crucial to keeping their Wildcard aspirations alive.
A key to the win was not only the GIANTS efficiency going forward and their accuracy in front of goal, but their ability to out-pressure the Suns (winning tackles 71-61) while also winning the clearance count (42 –39), despite the ruck dominance of former Suns captain Jarrod Witts.
There were strong performances across the board from both AFL and VFL-listed GIANTS on Sunday, led by the addition of Conor Stone who returned to the side after being the AFL travelling emergency last week.
Stone (27 disposals, nine clearances, eight rebound 50s, six tackles and a goal) played a huge role in the win, while Cody Angove (18 disposals, six inside 50s, three goals) was at his damaging best as he continues to push for his first AFL game of 2026.
Oskar Taylor (28 disposals, eight rebound 50s and a goal) and Finn Davis (15 disposals, seven intercept possessions) made strong contributions in defence, while Ollie Hannaford (14 disposals, nine contested possessions, four tackles), Jake Riccardi (16 disposals and a goal) and Toby McMullin (20 disposals, eight clearances, two goals) continued their respective pushes for AFL recalls.
Harvey Hooper (23 disposals, nine tackles, six clearances and three goals) had another typical strong performance, while Hugo Birks (five goals) continued his brilliant goal kicking form.
The club’s two VFL debutants, GIANTS Academy member Cooper French (two goals) and Sydney local Jac Mifsud, played their roles well in their first taste of VFL footy.
Skipper Ryan Hebron (six marks and two goals) was another strong contributor in his second game back following a dislocated elbow suffered in round 14 against Box Hill, while Kye Pfrengle (15 disposals, 11 intercept possessions) held his own in an entertaining battle with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
Sunday’s VFL edition of the Expansion Cup saw the Suns get to work quickly in the first term thanks to the dominant ruck work of Witts which allowed them take control of clearance in the game’s early stages.
The GIANTS were the first to hit the scoreboard however when an unattended Riccardi kicked truly from the goal square, before the Suns took charge with four unanswered goals, three of those through Ugle-Hagan, to take an early 19-point lead.
A late run from the GIANTS saw them respond with three goals in three minutes to Angove, Hebron and Birks.
Birks would boot his second late in the term to cut the deficit back to two points at the first break.
The GIANTS continued to fire to start the second as a brilliant tap from Mifsud on debut helped Angove continue a brilliant run down the middle, before the exciting 20-year-old finished it off with a goal.
It then went blow for blow as both teams capitalised off turnover in the slippery conditions, resulting in a flood of goals and four lead changes in the opening half of the second term.
Ending the back-and-forth battle were the Suns, racing to a 14-point lead through goals from Ugle-Hagan, Archie Hill and Lucas Snowball.
With the rain easing off and allowing for better conditions, the GIANTS kicked into gear with a dominant patch to see out the second term, kicking the last six goals of the quarter through Lachlan Grubb, French, Stone, Hooper and two more for Birks to give them a 25-point lead at the main break.
The GIANTS were able to add six more goals in the third term, the Suns unable to make the most of their opportunities as the GIANTS’ strong defensive efforts - and the visitors’ inaccuracy - saw the Suns fail to score a major until late in the term.
Hooper started off the second half the same way he finished the first by getting the GIANTS' first of the third quarter, before dashing defender Taylor kicked his first goal in orange and charcoal after a nice finish from distance following a 50-metre penalty.
From there, the GIANTS continued to punish the visitors on the scoreboard as McMullin kicked two in the term, Hooper kicked his third, and Birks added his fifth for the day to make it 11 goals in a row for the GIANTS across the second and third terms.
Down by eight goals, the Suns came out swinging to start the final term where they kicked five unanswered goals to turn what looked like a foregone conclusion into a 13-point game.
Needing a settler, it was the 17-year-old French who stood tall in a key moment, kicking a beautiful goal from 50 to end the Suns’ run of goals and give the GIANTS some breathing room.
Despite the Suns bringing it back to a two-goal game at the 25-minute mark, the GIANTS did enough to hold on and claim an important 13-point win as they continue their finals hunt.
The GIANTS now turn their attention to the final round of the home and away season which will see them face off with the Devils for the first time ever, with the club to host Tasmania at Tom Wills Oval on Sunday morning.
Currently sitting in eighth spot, the GIANTS either need to beat Tasmania on Sunday or rely on other results to play finals.
VFL ROUND 20
GIANTS: 6.1 14.6 20.7 21.7 (133)
Suns: 6.3 10.5 12.10 18.12 (120)
GOALKICKERS:
GIANTS: Hugo Birks 5, Harvey Hooper 3, Cody Angove 3, Toby McMullin 2, Ryan Hebron 2, Cooper French 2, Oskar Taylor, Conor Stone, Jake Riccardi, Lachlan Grubb
Suns: Caleb Lewis 6, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan 5, Lucas Snowball 2, Max Knobel, Ben Jepson, Archie Hill, Koby Coulson, Jake Callinan
