Even Greater Western Sydney coach Adam Kingsley is shocked at securing a preliminary remaining berth with a stirring 23-point victory over Port Adelaide.
Vice-captain Stephen Coniglio produced a first-half masterclass and Jesse Hogan slotted 4 objectives within the Giants’ 13.15 (93) to 9.16 (70) semi-final triumph on Saturday evening.
Coniglio impressed a five-goal blitz in 10 golden minutes within the second quarter at Adelaide Oval because the Giants e-book a preliminary remaining in opposition to flag favourites Collingwood subsequent Friday evening on the MCG.
“You’re saying, well, did I expect to make a prelim? No. Not this year anyway,” Kingsley mentioned.
Brisbane host Carlton on the Gabba within the different preliminary remaining on Saturday from 1715 AEST.
Port, like fellow top-four outfit Melbourne on Friday evening, exit the finals with consecutive losses.
“It was really clear we learned some really valuable lessons from the last two weeks in the finals … the game steps up in the contest,” Power coach Ken Hinkley mentioned.
“Everyone talks around it, it’s not like we were surprised by it and ambushed by it in any way.
“We simply weren’t adequate to have the ability to address it.”
Coniglio, who missed last week’s elimination final triumph against St Kilda because of an eye injury, collected 22 disposals, kicked a goal, and had five clearances and eight score involvements to halftime.
The ex-skipper finished with 30 disposals and two majors while fellow stalwarts Lachie Whitfield (33 disposals), Josh Kelly (21, two goals), Tom Green (29) and Callan Ward (24) were other standouts.
Hogan and captain Toby Greene (three goals) were attacking menaces and defenders Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley were superb.
Port’s Willie Rioli dazzled with three goals, Zak Butters had 25 touches and Dan Houston 22, while Travis Boak collected 21 disposals in what could be the 35-year-old’s last game.
Port held a three-point lead early in the second term before the Giants’ so-called ‘Orange Tsunami’ rolled in.
Coniglio sparked a match-defining of five consecutive goals a a stylish 10-minute purple patch.
The Giants, silencing the 45,250-strong pro-Port crowd, created a match-high 33-point break before leading by 29 at halftime, 9.11 to 5.6.
The advantage should have been greater: after the five consecutive majors, the visitors scored six successive behinds in a period of complete domination.
Port’s snuck within 18 points some 15 minutes into the third term but the the Giants, with Conigilo adding another major, rallied only to again be cruelled by inaccuracy.
In their wayward stretch, GWS added 2.9 but still held a 26-point three quarter-time buffer, 11.15 to 8.7.
The Power issued a last-ditch press but couldn’t cash in, kicking 1.4 – they were 16 points down with 10 minutes remaining.
But GWS ahead Jake Riccardi snapped Port’s spirit with a long-range set-shot from close to a boundary line earlier than skipper Greene rubber-stamped victory along with his third objective.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
