The Nation’s Capital turned up the heat on Saturday morning with hot conditions for GIANTS fans who turned out for the intra-club match and fan day at Alan Ray Oval.
The GIANTS spent three days in Canberra for the club’s Community Camp, with players visiting more than 26 schools and nine junior clubs, as well as seminars for local coaches.
The Community Camp was capped off with an intra-club practice match which saw a Charcoal 'A' team played against an Orange 'B' team featuring VFL-listed top-up players.
The match was played over four 30-minute quarters with the Charcoal team featuring young midfield stars Tom Green and Finn Callaghan as well as new backline duo Lachie Whitfield and Lachie Ash.
New GIANTS head coach Adam Kingsley said he was really pleased with the hit-out.
“The players got through the game pretty well. There was a little bit of cramping towards the end which was to be expected when it’s their first full hit-out for the summer, but they did a really good job” Kingsley said.
“We wanted to play a few certain people together as we’ve changed a few positions around this summer. Being able to play them together is important to get that synergy in the same lines so we did that for the bulk of the game, and then mixed it around a little bit towards the end.”
Off the back of a new four-year deal, which was announced in Canberra yesterday, Tom Green played a starring role in front of his home-town crowd chalking up 50 disposals for the match.
Callaghan was also strong early in the middle of the ground, starting in the centre square alongside Green and Harry Perryman, with Braydon Preuss in the ruck for the Charcoal team. Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly were sidelined with minor knocks picks up at training this week but are expected to return for next week’s pre-season game against the Gold Coast Suns at Blacktown.
“I thought all of the mids did a really good job in there, we got some good use out of the middle, they competed hard, and they were able to minimise the damage when they lost the clearance, so I thought they did a really good job as a group,” Kingsley said.
Harry Himmelberg led the scoring with five goals while Jake Riccardi kicked four, and Daniel Lloyd and James Peatling had three each for the Charcoal team.
Toby Greene (calf) and Jesse Hogan (wisdom teeth removal) were both on the sidelines today but will also return against the Suns practice next week.
“It was interesting, we have a couple of key forwards out so it’s going to be an interesting discussion during the week when we get those players back for the Gold Coast game around who it is, who we pick, and what those combinations look like,” Kingsley said.
“Structurally we were really strong up front, I thought what we’ve been training over the summer was reflected really well out there today which is pleasing.
“There’s still obviously work to do but the ability to win the ball in the front half and then hit the scoreboard was good.”
Having settled into their new positions, Whitfield and Ash were dominant off half-back, with Whitfield picking up 34 disposals across the day.
Also impressing the coach was Connor Idun, who returned strongly after missing the back end of last season with a foot injury.
“Idun had another good game for us. He was able to patrol across half back, intercept possessions, and then get our ball movement going, so yeah he was really strong today,” Kingsley said.
“Their [Whitfield and Ash] run and carry was really noticeable from behind the footy, and their ball use is very strong, so hopefully we can see that improve and they’ll become a real weapon for us.”
Also amongst the possessions was Callan Ward, who picked up 29 touches while playing a new role as a forward, while Perryman had 27, Nick Haynes was back to his best in the backline with 27 also while young draftee Harry Rowston had 26 playing through the middle.
Kingsley praised the GIANTS fans and members who turned out for the occasion – and his first trip to Canberra.
“It's been great down here, the turn out to all of our events has been really strong. All of our players that were involved in the community camps down here were visiting schools and junior clubs and doing the rounds yesterday and the day before, so they’ve been able to see a lot of the community which was terrific,” he said.
“We’ve seen a lot of orange out at all of the visits too which is what you always like to see – we can’t wait to get back down here for some big games this season.”
The GIANTS will take on the Gold Coast Suns in their only official practice match of the pre-season at Blacktown next Saturday. More details available, here.
Goal Kickers:
Himmelberg (5), Riccardi (4), Lloyd (3), Peatling (3), Callaghan (2) Flynn, Wehr, Green, Briggs, Kennedy, Derksen, Hebron (VFL), Pratt (VFL)
