The fast start

Himmelberg, 2; Finlayson, 2. Neither Harry not Jeremy had been able to find their ideal form in the first three rounds back, but both made the most of some quick ball movement in the opening quarter and got the GIANTS on the board. A Himmelberg tackle set up the first of his two goals for the term, the second coming after he turned Ben McEvoy around in the forward pocket and scooted into the goal square. Finlayson joined in with a banana goal from the wrong side of the ground for his left foot, and booted his second from an easier spot after out-marking McEvoy in front of goal. It was a quieter second term for the GIANTS, but both players were back amongst the action as the team kicked six third-quarter goals to set up what would become a 34-point win. Both Harry and Jeremy finished with four goals straight, with Jeremy Cameron adding another two.

Efficiency overload

The GIANTS’ 13.5 final scoreline was their second best one for the year behind the round one win over Geelong, despite the team mustering just one goal in the second term. The GIANTS lost the inside-50 count 26-38 but were able to make the most of their chances, hitting the scoreboard 18 times for the night. The GIANTS were also better able to make the Hawks pay for their errors, scoring 50 points from turnover compared to Hawthorn’s 21 points.

Shane Mumford, goalkicker

If you have forgotten what it feels like to cheer through a Shane Mumford goal, you’re forgiven: it was 1051 days between his 52nd and 53rd, and he did retire for a while, somewhere in there. Number 52 came against West Coast in round 22 of the 2017 season; No. 53 came on his 34th birthday, after he nudged McEvoy out of a ruck contest midway through the third quarter, threw the ball onto his boot from 30 metres out and watched it fly through as he was swamped by some very happy teammates.

The backs, back at it

Sam Taylor was missing but Phil Davis made it to the start line and the backline was as steady and solid as it has been all season. The intercept marking of Nick Haynes, Lachie Keeffe and Aidan Corr helped the GIANTS make the faster start, Perryman barely missed a target all night, Lachie Ash did some nice things and Heath Shaw kept an in-form Chad Wingard quiet. The first quarter marked the first time this year that the GIANTS had kept a team goalless for a term. Haynes’ intercept grab inside forward-50 and nice little pass to a goal-square bound Finlayson in the second quarter was pretty handy, too.

Welcome to the winners' list

Tommy Sheridan's first game for the GIANTS didn't last long - the former Fremantle winger had time only to rack up a mark and a handball before heading to the bench injured in round three last year. Sheridan's first year in Sydney was a rough one injury-wise but he got himself fit, got called up when Callan Ward was ruled out late in the week and got to sing the Big, Big Sound for the first time. 

Harry Perryman Coleman Medal Watch

Harry’s excellent fourth season continued against the Hawks… in the backline. With Zac Williams missing, Isaac Cumming out for a while and Adam Kennedy not yet ready to come back in, Perryman was required down back where his reading of the play, pinpoint kicking and courage in the air played a big part in the GIANTS’ third win for the year. Perryman finished with 28 disposals, 11 marks and a tackle… but wasn’t able to sneak forward to find a 10th goal for the year.