GWS extended its winning streak to five games after producing its biggest final-term comeback in its history to down the Hawks on Sunday — and it was a memorable victory shared with the friends and family of the Giants’ stars.
The Giants fought back from 28 points down at three-quarter-time, booting seven goals in the last quarter to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
Take an exclusive look inside the GWS rooms post-match on Sunday, as senior coach Adam Kingsley got everyone involved in the fun.
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“I apologise in advance if I swear, I’m going to try my best not to — I can’t promise anything,” Kingsley said, addressing both his playing group and their loved ones.
“We spoke about playing our way — making it look like a Giants game — at three-quarter-time. What did it feel like playing that way in the last quarter?”
A GWS player answered: “It’s fun.”
Kingsley: “Oh, I agree. It is fun. It’s fun when we play that way, so let’s have fun. Let’s keep trying to play that way. It’s not going to happen for 120 minutes, but it’s got to happen for a bit more than 30 minutes, too.”
The Giants had managed just 5.11 (41) to Hawthorn’s 10.9 (69) by three-quarter-time — but the tone of the match would change dramatically from that point.
Kingsley then opened up the floor, asking: “Friends and family, what did it look like? Tell these guys what it looked like and call someone out (for) what you loved about what they did.”
Someone shouted out: “Jack (Buckley)’s tackle.” The room erupted with cheers and applause.
With just over a minute remaining in the game and GWS up by two points, Buckley pinged Hawthorn captain James Sicily in a game-sealing tackle, just as it seemed the Hawks were going to go inside 50 one final time to snatch their lead back.
A smiling Kingsley said: “Alright, next one — what else? We don’t have to clap (every time) … well, maybe we (do).”
As the players’ loved ones started getting into the spirit, someone else called out: “Jesse (Hogan)’s marking.”
Kingsley concurred: “Absolutely brilliant, mate. Now a couple of goals in front in the Coleman (Medal).”
GWS’ forward-line focal point, Hogan booted 5.2 on Sunday to overtake Carlton’s Charlie Curnow as the league’s leading goalkicker, with 58 majors after 21 rounds.
Hogan and captain Toby Greene combined for 12 scoring shots — half of the Giants’ total tally for the day — against the Hawks.
Lastly, a young boy chimed in: “Didn’t back down!”
Kingsley: “Well done, that is exactly right — you’re going to be a coach one day, I know it.”
Source Agencies
