Leon Cameron didn't have to wait long to find out who would answer the midfield call, with young gun Tim Taranto impressing in the GIANTS' 22-point win over the Swans on Saturday night.
With Dylan Shiel moving to Essendon at the end of last season, Taranto showed he could fill the void, collecting 33 disposals and six clearances as the GIANTS ran out 12.9 (81) to 8.11 (59) winners at Blacktown International Sportspark.
It was the second time these sides had met in eight days after they staged a practice match last Friday, and the GIANTS looked far better early, booting three goals in the first 90 seconds on the back of a dominant midfield.
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Down back, Zac Williams did as he pleased on his way to winning 20 disposals in just 53 per cent of game time.
Brilliant GIANTS onballer Stephen Coniglio showed why he will be highly sought after this season, with the restricted free agent notching up 34 disposals, 16 contested possessions and a goal, as well as laying 10 tackles.
Up forward, Jeremy Cameron was dangerous all night, with a play in the third term when he took a couple of bounces along the wing and nailed Harry Himmelberg with a long kick the highlight.
Sydney's Sam Reid had an excuse for going goalless, not having played since round three last year after dealing with quad, Achilles and calf injuries.
His presence will be important early in the season, particularly as spearhead Lance Franklin and recruit Dan Menzel battle groin problems as they race to be fit for round one.
A clean one-handed pick-up in the second term showed the talent Sydney missed in attack at times in 2018, while his effort to contest a GIANTS kick-in helped create a George Hewett goal, although Luke Parker should take plenty of credit for that after a brilliant bounce handpass.
Ollie Florent, Callum Mills and Tom Papley spent time in the midfield but it was Isaac Heeney who starred for the Swans on his way to 24 disposals, 13 contested possessions and two goals.
WHAT WE LEARNED
GIANTS: The GIANTS have plenty of talent coming through, and the GIANTS outfit showed the slick ball movement it has become renowned for. Taranto is a jet, Williams hasn't missed a beat and Lachie Whitfield is among the more dangerous players in the competition. All this with Josh Kelly and Toby Greene still on the sidelines.
Swans: There's still no decisive answer as to where Heeney should be stationed. He was dangerous when he went forward and finished as his side's leading goalkicker, but looked excellent through the middle, after the opening quarter anyway. The eventual return of Franklin might convince the Swans hierarchy to push Heeney further up the ground.
NEW FACES
GIANTS: Draftee Jye Caldwell amassed only 14 disposals but he had more influence than that number would indicate. His class was evident when kicking his second goal on the run, while he displayed his strength when fending off Hewett, before finding Daniel Lloyd on the lead. Fellow midfielder Jackson Hately's vision was quickly obvious, and he showed an appetite to attack the contest.
Swans: With Franklin out, Blakey was targeted often but couldn't recreate his impact from last week's scratch match, when he booted three goals. A couple of free kicks conceded within minutes early in the second term would have been disappointing for him, but he showed good signs, such as his lovely tap to Florent later in that quarter. Former Roo Ryan Clarke picked up 20 disposals and worked hard but was scratchy with his ball use. Ex-Cat Jackson Thurlow was stationed down back and notched up 17 disposals and five rebound-50s. Justin McInerney and James Rowbottom didn't spent much time on ground, although the former managed to soccer a goal.
FANTASY WATCH
Zac Williams (DEF, $421,000) put up 80 points in just 53 per cent game time and the new kick-in rules should suit the speedy backman.
NEXT UP
The GIANTS face another winner in Adelaide next Friday at UNSW Canberra Oval, while the Swans play host to Gold Coast at Oakes Oval in Northern New South Wales next Sunday.
GIANTS 5.2 7.3 10.7 12.9 (81)
SWANS 0.2 3.4 6.6 8.11 (59)
GOALS
GIANTS: Lloyd 3, Caldwell 2, Ward, Daniels, Hately, Perryman, Cameron, Coniglio, Davis
Swans: Heeney 2, Blakey, Hewett, McInerney, Kennedy, Parker, Sinclair
BEST
GIANTS: Coniglio, Taranto, Cameron, Whitfield, Williams, Lloyd
Swans: Heeney, Lloyd, Cunningham, Florent, Sinclair
INJURIES
GIANTS: Nil
Swans: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
UMPIRES: Stephens, Glouftsis, Findlay
Official crowd: 2636 at Blacktown International Sportspark
