The GIANTS’ 2024 VFL campaign ended with a valiant 26-point loss to Williamstown in the last round of the home and away season at DSV Stadium in Victoria on Saturday afternoon. 

Nick Haynes and Adam Kennedy helped the GIANTS get off to a strong start as they held a slim lead at the first change before the home side kicked into gear after half-time with a strong third term to help set up the 17.11 (113) to 12.15 (87) win.  

It was a red-hot shootout to start Saturday’s contest with a blistering 10-goal opening quarter which saw just two points separating the sides at the first break.  

Kennedy and Haynes were everywhere early on as both GIANTS veterans also kicked majors to give the visitors a two-point lead following an exciting opening term.  

Inaccuracy in front of goal proved costly in the second term for the GIANTS however as they managed just 1.4 as the Seagulls flew out to a 10-point half-time lead. 

Williamstown continued their strong play after the main break with a four goal to one third term to stretch the lead to 29 points at the final break despite strong performances from AFL-listed duo Xavier O’Halloran and Wade Derksen.   

Refusing to surrender, the GIANTS kicked 5.5 in a strong final quarter to push the home side all the way to the final siren but it wasn’t enough as they fell 26 points short in what proved to be their final VFL game of the season.  

O’Halloran (26 touches, six clearances and a goal) and Derksen (25 touches, 12 marks, 2.2) were the standouts for the GIANTS in defeat, while Nick Madden (20 touches, 34 hit-outs, eight clearances) capped off his stellar VFL campaign with another impressive outing in his second game back from injury. 

Leek Aleer (20 touches, 10 marks) was another to catch the eye with a strong performance down back, as was Haynes (19 touches, two goals) who continued his brilliant run of VFL form.  

Kennedy (16 touches, one goal) quietened down after quarter-time but was still influential for the GIANTS, while Callum Brown (13 touches, four marks, one goal) had his moments as he looks to break back into the AFL side. 

The GIANTS finished their 2024 VFL campaign with an 8-10 record across their 18 games to fall just short of a spot in the Wildcard round.  

VFL Round 21 

GIANTS:   5.3 6.7  7.10 12.15 (87) 
Williamstown: 5.1 8.5 12.9 17.11 (113) 

Goals:    

GIANTS: Haynes 2, Derksen 2, Hebron 2, Byrne 2, Brown, Kennedy, O’Halloran, Wardius
Williamstown: McLaughlin 4, Colenso 3, Ebinger 3, Ellison 3, Collier-Dawkins, Conway, Cousins, Grego