Adam Kingsley’s quest to bring the zip that was once the hallmark of its game back to the GIANTS showed promising signs in a 45-point win over the Gold Coast in Blacktown.

With the two Lachie’s – Lachie Whitfield and Lachie Ash – now stationed as half-backs in Kingsley’s new system, the GIANTS possessed pace in their transition out of defence that has been missing far too often over the past three seasons.

While Whitfield, who had 25 possessions, was a standout when the game was up for grabs, it was the number three draft pick from 2021 in Finn Callaghan who will enthuse GIANTS fans the most ahead of the new season.

The tall winger was outstanding with 22 possessions and two long-range goals and, with his smooth moving frame and poise, looks set to add a fresh dimension to the GIANTS' midfield after playing five games in his debut season.

"He looked great", GIANTS coach Adam Kingsley said. "We're pretty excited by what he can deliver but I just want him to play his role on the wing and we'll see where it takes us."

In the absence of dual club champion Touk Miller as well as Brandon Ellis and the recovering Lachie Weller, Gold Coast lacked the required depth in midfield to match it with the GIANTS. Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell were typically busy though, while Sam Flanders enjoyed a prolonged run in the midfield and was lively with 30 touches.

No moment would have provided more encouragement for Stuart Dew and the Suns though than seeing their returning spearhead Ben King kick the opening goal of the game, in his first outing since the ACL that ruled him out of the entirety of the 2022 season.

King was mobbed by teammates after the set shot sailed through and then rested in the second half as the Suns eased a player of great importance to them back into the AFL fold.

With Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper departing at the end of last season, a big question mark on the GIANTS has surrounded its midfield depth, but the pre-season form of several big names is providing reassurances that all will be fine in that area.

Josh Kelly looks as classy as ever while Tom Green again indicated that he’s set for a big season after plateauing in form at the back end of last year. Stephen Coniglio is coming off a second-placed finish in the best and fairest and looked dangerous while Callaghan looms as a future game-breaker.

While the GIANTS put them under massive pressure in the second half, with Harry Himmelberg kicking three late goals, the Suns key defensive pillars of Sam Collins and Charlie Ballard were excellent and look set to form one of the more underrated key defensive partnerships in the competition, yet again.

GIANTS                                     3.5   7.6   14.7   19.8 (122)
GOLD COAST                            3.3   6.3    6.4    12.5 (77)

GOALS

GIANTS: Riccardi 4, Himmelberg 3, Peatling 2, Lloyd 2, Hogan 2, Callaghan 2, Greene, Cumming, Ward, Stone.
Gold Coast: Jeffrey 2, King, Lukosious, Witts, Berry, Ainsworth, Tsitas, Chol, Casboult, Davies, Fiorini

BEST

GIANTS: Whitfield, Ash, Green, Kelly, Callaghan, Cumming, Coniglio, Riccardi, Lloyd
Gold Coast: Flanders, McPherson, Witts, Collins, Anderson, Constable, Rowell.