One of the AFL’s fiercest rivalries can have a number of additional dimensions for GWS after they play the Western Bulldogs.
The Giants are coming off a one-point win over Sydney, however have misplaced their final 4 in opposition to the Dogs.
They may also take a worrying eight-game shedding streak at Manuka Oval into Saturday night time’s conflict.
With GWS on a 3-4 file and the Bulldogs at 4-3, it’s a pivotal duel for 2 mid-table groups who’re eyeing the highest eight.
The match may also characteristic two of the sport’s greatest captains – Giants skipper Toby Greene, who kicked the match-winning objective in opposition to the Swans, and Marcus Bontempelli, who’s coming off his two hundredth sport.
Their conflict in the course of the 2019 elimination closing, which earned Greene a effective for severe misconduct, is a key characteristic of the Giants-Bulldogs folklore.
New GWS coach Adam Kingsley has rapidly turn into conscious {that a} match in opposition to the Bulldogs is value extra to his gamers than 4 factors.
“It’s a big game. Obviously they’ve had some really strong battles … close, intense games,” Kingsley stated.
“Outside of the Swans, this is probably the biggest game that our players play.”
When Kingsley was requested on Tuesday whether or not Greene needs to be thought-about among the many perfect gamers within the AFL, he instantly referenced Bontempelli as nicely.
“I would think he’s thereabouts. We’re going to play one this week obviously in Bontempelli,” Kingsley stated.
“He’s in that top echelon of a handful of players who can be considered the best players in the game, for sure.”
Asked if they might take into account tagging the Bulldogs captain, Kingsley replied: “We’ll certainly have attention on him, that’s for sure. If you let him run around by himself … he’s going to have an enormous impact.
“We’ll try to nullify that as greatest as we probably can. We’ll definitely be paying him shut consideration.”
Greene is captaining GWS by himself for the first time this year and he has impressed everyone, including his coach.
“To see the best way he conducts himself week to week, the assistance he offers his teammates on and off the sector … his management across the group is basically sturdy,” Kingsley stated.
“He trains in a manner that nearly forces you to observe him. He definitely leads the best way in that sense as nicely.
“I’m pleasantly surprised that he’s that type of character who’s a great teammate, a great leader and certainly through actions, as well as words.
“It appears like his influence on the group is big.”
While the Giants are yet to build consistency, their biggest losing margin is only 21 points.
But for Kingsley winning at Manuka, their second home, is “actually essential”.
“I see risk throughout the group. If we play our greatest, we will beat anybody,” Kingsley stated.
“It’s only a matter of delivering and taking part in our greatest in opposition to good, high quality opposition.
“Obviously we want to get as big a crowd as we can … if that ground can become bigger and we can re-establish it into our fortress, that’s clearly our aim.”
Eddie McGuire has made the cheeky suggestion that the Giants ought to play all their video games in Sydney or Canberra, solely coming to Melbourne in the event that they make the finals.
“That would be great. I won’t argue with that,” Kingsley stated.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
