The GIANTS’ VFL side fell agonisingly short of a brilliant comeback win against the Box Hill Hawks in Blacktown on Sunday despite a starring performance from first-round draftee James Leake and a host of his AFL-listed teammates.
Down by 28 points at the last change, the GIANTS stormed home to set up a frantic finish but couldn’t land the final blow as the Hawks held on for an epic 11.12 (78) to 10.17 (77) victory.
After trailing all day, it was some unlikely faces who kick-started the GIANTS’ red-hot final term as defender Billy Galimberti and GIANTS Academy youngster Coby Hilton both kicked majors before Wade Derksen kicked two goals in two minutes after being swung forward in a master stroke by coach Wayne Cripps. His first two majors of the year after spending the entire VFL season starring in defence, Derksen’s goals cut the Hawks’ 28-point three-quarter-time lead to just nine points with more than half the final term remaining.
Veteran utility Lachlan Keeffe continued the final-quarter tsunami for the GIANTS soon after with a clever snap goal from a forward-50 ruck stoppage to cut the lead to just three after the GIANTS trailed by almost 40 points early in the second term.
The brilliant comeback wasn’t to be however as a frantic final 20 minutes ensued remarkably without a goal as both sides wasted crucial shots on goal in a thrilling finale.
GIANT James Creighton had a chance to be the hero late but his tough set shot from 45m out near the boundary in the dying seconds was spoiled across the line on the final siren as the Hawks held on for a dramatic one-point win.
It was a gusty performance from the GIANTS who fielded one of their youngest and most inexperienced sides of the season which featured four GIANTS Academy teenagers against the now third-placed Hawks.
Missing the club’s leading VFL goal kicker Max Gruzewski who was elevated to the AFL side this week, the GIANTS found it tough to score early on against Box Hill but eventually got going to set up the thrilling final term.
Despite only losing the inside-50 count by two (13-11) in the opening term, the GIANTS found themselves down by 29 points at the first break as the efficient Hawks kicked five unanswered goals in a red-hot start.
Livewire forward Matt Harms got the GIANTS going in the second term with a classy soccer goal before skipper Ryan Hebron and exciting first-round draftee Phoenix Gothard both added majors of their own to cut the lead to 15 points at the main break.
Another recent draftee Nathan Wardius got in on the action in the third term with beautiful back-to-back set shot goals but the Hawks responded with two of their own to restore the lead to 28 points at the last change before the gripping final term.
Despite the loss there were several strong performances from the GIANTS, with Leake the standout to finish with a VFL career-high 34 touches to go along with eight clearances, five marks and six tackles in a superb all-round game.
Nick Haynes (36 touches, 12 marks) and Conor Stone (24 touches, seven marks) also continued to press their AFL claims with brilliant games, while Derksen (17 touches, 2.2, four marks) almost proved the difference in the second half.
Adam Kennedy (21 touches, seven marks) and Jacob Wehr (18 touches, six marks) were also solid, while Keeffe (14 touches, 18 hit-outs, a goal, six clearances) contributed strongly up forward and in the ruck.
Marc Sheather was the best of the VFL-listed GIANTS as the tough midfielder finished with 19 touches, five marks, four tackles and three clearances.
The GIANTS’ VFL side will next travel to Queensland for a clash with the Brisbane Lions next Sunday at Brighton Homes Arena.
VFL Round 19
GIANTS: 0.3 3.8 5.11 10.17 (77)
Box Hill: 5.2 6.5 10.9 11.12 (78)
Goals:
GIANTS: Derksen 2, Wardius 2, Gothard, Harms, Hebron, Hilton, Keeffe, Galimberti
Box Hill: Scaife 4, Maginness 2, Arundell, Cavarra, O’Sullivan, Porter, Tucker
