Giants and Swans both suffer blow from Port Adelaide victory

By Malcolm ConnUpdated August 1, 2021 â€" 10.25pmfirst published at 9.23pm

Port Adelaide’s victory over the GWS Giants on Sunday night has also hurt the Swans.

The Power’s 27-point win in the hastily rescheduled match at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium has kept the Giants out of the final eight and made it harder for the Swans to finish in the top four and claim the finals double chance.

The Giants’ receding finals hopes have been dealt a further blow, with robust midfield Jason Hopper and experienced key defender Phil Davis set to miss the next crucial encounter against second-placed Geelong with concussion.

Hopper received an accidental kick in the face and had to be taken from the ground by mobile stretcher before being sent to hospital for observation. With three rounds remaining he may not play again this season.

GWS coach Leon Cameron described the incident as unlucky.

“That’s what happens on the footy field sometimes, he’s so brave and tough,” Cameron said.

“He’s been unbelievably good for us this year and he puts his head in places you don’t want him to sometimes.”

Veteran ruckman Shane Mumford is likely to be rested after successive matches.

“He’s a bit banged up,” Cameron said.

After being stuck in isolation acting captain Toby Greene played his first game in three weeks, kicking 2.4.

“His effort was there no doubt, that can never be questioned,” Cameron said. “His enthusiasm was unbelievable but he was a bit rusty in terms of some of the decisions he made.

Tim Taranto of the Giants gets ahead of his opponent to take a mark at Marvel Stadium.Credit:Getty

“He’s continued to pepper the scoreboard....but there’s no doubt sitting out for two weeks with limited training he’s not going to be the sharpest.”

During a packed schedule of Sunday matches after three games had to be moved from Queensland following a shock Saturday lockdown, various possibilities loomed.

First, the Swans beat Essendon in a shootout at the MCG to cement a place in the finals and draw level with fourth-placed Port Adelaide on 13 wins.

The Swans were just three per cent behind the Power after a fifth successive victory and had moved into fifth place at the expense of the Brisbane Lions, who had a shock loss to lowly Hawthorn.

Then Fremantle beat struggling premiers Richmond in Perth to push the Giants out of the final eight as they were going goal for goal in an entertaining clash.

It was the Giants’ third loss in four matches and continued an up-and-down season after coming off a spirited victory against fellow finals hopefuls Essendon.

“We won the turnover battle, which was good against [Essendon], but we were cut up in terms of scores from stoppages. Their fleet-footed players really hurt us,” Cameron said. “That was the difference in the end.”

There was plenty of spirit in the way the Giants played as they continued to challenge Port.

They threatened to overrun the Giants in the first term with 23 inside-50s to just five after the Giants kicked the first goal of the game. But for some desperate defence, the margin could have been much greater than 15 points.

Jacob Hopper of the Giants is stretchered off the ground.Credit:Getty

But a strong finish by the Giants in the second term left them only eight points behind at half-time and they hit the front later in the third quarter thanks to a goal from Greene.

Port Adelaide kicked the next two goals to lead by seven points at the final change.

It may have been closer after Giants’ key forward Harry Himmelberg marked within range but the umpire ruled he had taken more than the allocated 30 seconds to have a shot and called play on, resulting in a surprise tackle.

Port then kicked the first two goals of the final term and maintained a comfortable lead.

Giants’ Western Sydney Academy product James Peatling made an encouraging debut. The club’s first mid-season rookie pick just two months ago, the local boy looked polished and proactive in defence.

BEST
Port Adelaide: Amon, Boak, Wines, Dixon, Butters, Ladhams.
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly, Haynes, Whitfield, Hopper, Lloyd, Peatling.

VOTES
K. Amon (Port Adelaide) 7
T. Boak (Port Adelaide) 7
O. Wines (Port Adelaide) 6
J. Kelly (Greater Western Sydney) 6
N. Haynes (Greater Western Sydney) 6

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Chief Cricket Writer

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