By Robert Griffin

@RLGriffin85

Welcome to Robert’s AFL Dream Team Round-Up for round 19; and what a round it was! This week Kevin Sheedy celebrated his 1000^th game as player and coach by masterminding a special win at Skoda Stadium for the young GIANTS against Port Adelaide. It was the GIANTS second win of the year, and their first in Western Sydney.

Round 19

Kicking their way to 107 points, the GIANTS had nine separate goal scorers, with Rising Star nominees Tomas Bugg and Jeremy Cameron leading the way with three apiece. It is the GIANTS highest score of the season, surpassing their previous best effort of 94 in their win against the Suns down in Canberra.

Co-Captain Callan Ward led the way after an early injury scare, knocking up a huge 126 point game, the largest AFL Dream Team score of any GIANTS this season, a record previously held by Toby Green for his 125 points against Hawthorn in round 15. Close behind was Jonathan (Joffa) Giles, who for the second week in a row posted a great score, backing up his 118 against the Pies, with a 124 DT game against the Power.

As predicted, Chad Cornes put in a special performance, racking up Dream Team points playing loose in defense. With ten marks and sixteen kicks, Chad posted a handy 106 points for his owners. Rising Star nominees Stephen Coniglio (105), Adam Treloar (96), Toby Green (86) and Jeremy Cameron (84) were all solid. But it was the hard running (yet to be nominated) Devon Smith who stole the day.

Smith, was taken last year at pick 14 in the AFL Draft, and posted an imposing 107 points (which could have been 116 had points not been taken away for three free kicks against him). Backing up his 100 point game last week, Devon is another GIANT who would be pushing hard for a Rising Star nomination by season end, having been one of the GIANTS most consistent contributors across the year.

In the past fortnight Devon has scored five goals, laid eleven tackles, and collected forty-two possessions in a work-horse like effort. For those coaches who have him in their teams, he is more than repaying the faith in his selection, and as a Dual Position Player, he will be very handy over the last four rounds.

Next week

Next week the GIANTS travel to Metricon Stadium for the first time, where they will take on the Gold Coast Suns. The GIANTS currently hold the wood over the Suns having beaten them when they first met earlier this season, in a game that produced some healthy Dream Team scores. Stephen Conilgio was the star on that day, scoring 108 points (from 31 possessions) which resulted in his Rising Star nomination. Could he regain his early season form and help the GIANTS wrestle another win up in the Sunshine State? Only time will tell.

Another player to watch this week is Jon Giles, who scored 107 the last time the two teams played and is in exceptional form! Toby Green, who is averaging 91 DT points this season, second only to Ward at the GIANTS, is one to keep an eye on, as is Jeremy Cameron, who was held quiet the last time these teams met (with one goal), but will be looking to cash in on his current form, kicking five goals in the past fortnight. Good luck to everyone this week with your Toyota AFL Dream Teams, and Go Giants!

The views in this article are that of the author and not necessarily that of the Greater Western Sydney Football Club

Click here to view the photos of the inaugural GIANTS ladies lunch