The glimmer of hope

It was only really in the third quarter that the GIANTS were able to get moving and get the game played on their terms. After trailing by two goals at half-time the team kicked goals via Jeremy Cameron and Lachie Whitfield to take the lead, scoring from eight out of 10 forward entries at one stage but missing a number of chances to stretch the lead out further, with a Stephen Coniglio shot hitting the post and after couple of kicks flying out on the full. As it turned out the break wasn’t enough: a Charlie Dixon goal after the siren put Port back in front, and while the GIANTS grabbed the lead again late in the last quarter the Power were able to swing the contested ball count their way and run the game out much stronger.

The running man

The GIANTS struggled to get their ball movement going all day but Lachie Whitfield was    one who kept on the move from start to finish. He racked up 11 possessions throughout the second half and was instrumental in the team’s third quarter push, kicking his set shot goal after a long Cameron pass met him at the end of a typically exhausting run. It was his first for the year, and put the GIANTS in front. His tally? 25 possessions, four tackles and eight marks.

Davis vs Dixon

Both the GIANTS and Power backlines had plenty of work to do, with the ball flinging from end to end for most of the first half as both sides struggled to work their way effectively inside 50 and score. Heath Shaw, Lachie Keeffe and Aidan Corr all did some good work in the air, with Nick Haynes and his marking game prominent in the third quarter. Dixon failed to kick a goal against Brisbane in round five but, with 11 already on the board for the year, represented another big challenge for Phil Davis. Davis was up to it, limiting Dixon with his body work and making some big spoils at important times. The Power forward finished with just one goal for the game.

Jezza steps it up

It was another difficult day for the GIANTS forwards, early on and then late when Port had all the run. Unlike the game against Hawthorn, it was a much harder day to score. But some big Cameron efforts during the third quarter helped get things going. Cameron’s goal from the boundary early in the third term got the team back to within a pick, before a brilliant long pass to Lachie Whitfield, who he spotted alone in the forward 50, gave the GIANTS their first look at the lead.

Lachie Ash hits the scoreboard

Lachie Ash has settled nicely into the GIANTS’ side in his first four games, and once again showed some poise with the ball in tight down back. The margin was too big for the GIANTS to overhaul when he kicked his first career goal late in the last quarter, but it was a nice moment for the 19-year-old – who got on the end of a Toby Greene handball and streamed through the 50-metre line before steading up to kick – to look back on nonetheless.

Perryman’s courage

Harry Perryman’s day looked in doubt early on, after he found himself on the end of a very big bump from Brad Ebert. True to form he got up, shook his head, took his free kick and got on with things. Throughout an up-and-down season, Perryman’s form has been a constant and he was good again against the Power. No goals, so the Coleman Medal dream may be over, but he made good decisions down back, used the ball well, played with courage and was one of the team’s best performers.