An eye-catching performance from draftee Cody Angove and big games from midfield stars Josh Kelly and Finn Callaghan were the highlights as the GIANTS ramped up their pre-season preparations in a match simulation with the Swans at Tramway Oval on Friday morning.
Their first official practice match ahead of next week’s AAMI Community Series clash with the Blues in Canberra, the GIANTS took on the Swans across seven terms as both sides rotated through their AFL and VFL squads.
Played in overcast and humid but also sunny conditions early on, the weather turned dramatically after the first two terms as the heavens opened up with constant rain for the final five terms as the GIANTS and Swans clashed in a pre-season Battle of the Bridge.
HOT START
It was hot in the kitchen early as the fierce rivals did battle in front of a strong and vocal crowd at Tramway Oval.
With mouthwatering midfield matchups everywhere to start the game, it was a footy fan’s dream as the likes of Josh Kelly, Finn Callaghan and Kieren Briggs took on Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, and Brodie Grundy.
The physicality of the fiery contest was no more evident than a huge contest at half forward in the first term which saw a courageous Leek Aleer go down in a bone crunching marking contest.
The exciting defender was left on his haunches for a few moments before returning to his feet and quickly back into the action.
DRAFTEE STEALS THE SHOW
Friday’s match sim was the first real action for four untried recent GIANTS draftees and it didn’t take long for one in particular to make an immediate mark, with wingman Cody Angove starring in an eye-catching performance.
Playing in his first proper hit-out in GIANTS colours, the number 24 pick from November’s draft looked right at home against the Swans as he racked up early possessions before kicking his first major in orange and charcoal from the result of a 50m penalty in the opening term.
The impressive West Australian’s hot start continued soon after when he kicked his second goal of the term following a free kick at the top of the goal square for a brilliant tackle.
The 18-year-old played the opening four terms and continued his impressive play throughout to clearly be amongst the GIANTS’ best, with a brilliant diving smother on the boundary line in the fourth term putting an emphasis on an eye-catching performance.
FIT AS FIDDLES
Missing key midfielders Tom Green (calf) and Stephen Coniglio (shoulder), Josh Kelly and Finn Callaghan starred in the middle against the Swans on Friday.
After his 2024 season was heavily interrupted by a pair of calf injuries, Kelly was back to his smooth-moving best against the Swans as he racked up possessions with ease to be involved in countless attacking chains.
Callaghan was just as damaging as the young gun showed his power both with and without the footy as he continued to be a driving force with the ball in hand as well as displaying a great appetite to apply physical pressure on the Swans.
HULKING HOGAN
Despite the often-tough conditions it was the same old Jesse Hogan against the Swans on Friday as the reigning Coleman Medallist made his presence felt in the air to finish with three goals across the first four periods.
The focal point in attack for the GIANTS, Hogan’s ability to either mark the ball or bring it to ground was a real strength of Adam Kingsley’s side yet again, with the likes of Darcy Jones and Brent Daniels both producing their own impressive moments while playing at the big man’s feet.
Exciting young key forward Aaron Cadman also kicked two nice goals as he continues his emergence as a star of the future.
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
Friday’s match sim allowed plenty of the club’s youngsters their first real taste of action against genuine opposition, with Ollie Hannaford, Harry Oliver, Josaia Delana, and Jack Ough all with impressive moments.
While Angove was the star of the youngsters, Hannaford was certainly worthy of a mention following an impressive performance playing across half forward in tough conditions.
As well as kicking a goal with a classy set shot finish from 45m out, Hannaford was tough and clean in the wet conditions to show just why the GIANTS snapped him up with pick 18 in last year’s draft.
While possessing a bit more experience, some other of the club’s youngsters also had their moment on Friday, with Jake Riccardi playing a hand in multiple goals and taking a pair of strong grabs, while Xavier O’Halloran was strong playing up forward and in the middle, and Conor Stone had some dashing moments off half-back in a positive sign in his move to defence.
TALENTED TASMANIAN
Untried 2023 draftee James Leake did his chances of an AFL debut this season no harm with a superb performance playing across the final four terms of Friday’s match sim.
Playing both in the middle and down back, the well-built utility appeared to be playing with a dry footy despite the slippery conditions, highlighted by two strong contested marks in the middle of the ground.
Possessing great ball-winning abilities, strong hands in the air, and a ferocious desire to tackle and apply pressure, Leake’s full skill set was on display on Friday as he continues to push for an AFL debut.
ROWSTON IS READY
Third- year midfielder Harry Rowston is another looking to break his way into the GIANTS’ star-studded midfield this season.
With seven AFL games to his name in 2023, Rowston has since continued to be one of the best performers for the club’s VFL side and will be hoping he can return to the senior side in 2025 after not adding to his tally last year.
The well-built inside midfielder, who returned from the summer break looking noticeably leaner and super fit, was one of the GIANTS’ best across the final four quarters on Friday - and similar to Leake - will be looking to make the most of any opportunity thrown his way in 2025.
ORANGE TSUNAMI
While tough conditions for much of the day meant pretty football went out the window, the GIANTS’ orange tsunami still had its moments, with a passage of play kickstarted by a trademark Wade Derksen intercept mark the pick of the day.
After picking off a Swans’ front half entry, Derksen looked inboard to Leake who took a tough overhead mark before hitting up Max Grusewski by foot at half forward who turned and played on to set up Nathan Wardius at the top of the goal square who then converted truly.
With no Swan touching the ball, the silky ball movement was textbook coast to coast football from the GIANTS.
The initiator of the play- Derksen -played across the second half of Friday’s match sim where his aerial presence and silky skills by foot were strong, while Wardius had several classy moments up forward and as did Gruzewski playing both ahead of the ball and in the ruck.
Swans 5.2 11.6 15.8 19.11 (125)
GIANTS 4.0 5.5 8.7 10.8 (68)
GOALS
Swans: Amartey 6, Campbell 4, Heeney, Gulden, Jordon, Adams, Co. Warner, Grundy, Hayward, Chad Warner, McCartin
GIANTS: Hogan 3, Angove 2, Cadman 2, Daniels, Jones, Leake
