The GIANTS are back in the NEAFL top four after claiming a comfortable 56-point-win over the NT Thunder on Saturday night.

Jackson Hately, Nick Shipley, Aiden Bonar and Jye Caldwell were strong through the midfield for the GIANTS, while Zach Sproule marked an impressive return from injury in the 7.11 (53) to 16.13 (109) win at TIO Stadium.

The young midfielders outran and outmuscled the Thunder throughout the game, but it was a fast start from the GIANTS that helped them to their eighth win of the season.

A five goal to one first quarter saw the GIANTS open a 23-point break at quarter time before a six-goal second quarter extended the lead to an unassailable 46 points at the main break.

“It’s a big trip going up to the Northern Territory and they’ve been in some really good form the last couple of weeks so I’m really rapt to come away with a really solid win,” GIANTS NEAFL Coach Adam Schneider said.

“I was really impressed with the way we went about it.”

Sproule was important up forward for the GIANTS, kicking three goals in his first game back from a knee injury suffered in round eight.

Remarkably Sproule has now kicked 22 goals and just four behinds in his eight games in 2019. 

“It was great to see him get back out there and hit the scoreboard, it was good for him,” Schneider said.

“His workrate and effort to get himself back to playing has been nothing but spot on.

“He’s reaped his rewards from it by getting three goals on the weekend.”

The GIANTS face a stern test when they take on Aspley at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday at 12:55pm.

A win will put the GIANTS two games clear of fifth place, while a loss would see Aspley leapfrog the GIANTS on percentage.

NT THUNDER 1.3, 3.5, 4.7, 7.11 (53)

GIANTS 5.2, 11.3, 13.11, 16.13 (109)

GOALS – GIANTS: Grant 4; Delahunty, Sproule 3; Bonar 2; Briggs, Hately, Moen, Peatling 1

Adam Schneider on the GIANTS’ AFL listed players:

Jye Caldwell – 27 disposals, four marks, five tackles, four inside-50s
“Jye had a really good game on the inside. His work inside is his greatest strength and I thought on the weekend he went to another level which was great to see. He’s also getting a lot fitter which you could see the difference this week compared to last. He’s in some good form and he’ll only build from here and it won’t be long before we start talking about him playing seniors I feel.” 

Jackson Hately – 33 disposals, four marks, six tackles, six inside-50s, one goal
“I thought Jackson was one of our best players on the weekend, his work rate from contest to contest was a standard above everyone else. He was super. He was smart with ball in hand and he really helped us link up with his intercept ball use as well.

Aiden Bonar – 23 disposals, seven marks, four tackles, two goals
“Bonar was good for us, he had a different role for us playing up forward for half of the game. He was great kicking two goals one and any one-on-one contest up forward he looked very damaging. We tried to get it to him as much as possible. It was good to see him do that and then go into the midfield and bring a lot of energy and use his strength which is his speed to break the lines." 

Zach Sproule – 12 disposals, five marks, one tackle, three goals
“He started really, really well his work rate and movement ahead of the footy was a real standout. He really worked his opponent over. It was just a great first hit out for Zach, I was happy for him to get through unscathed and get a few kicks.”

Matt Flynn – 13 disposals, four marks, 18 hitouts, two inside 50s
“Okay from Flynny this week, he didn’t quite have the impact around the ground or in the air as he has in the past, but it wasn’t that type of game. It was a very free-flowing and fast sort of turnover game. But for him to battle through was great, and he still played pretty well when there weren’t many stoppages.” 

Kieren Briggs – 15 disposals, five marks, eight hitouts, four inside-50s, one goal
“It was a better game from Briggsy this week, really solid; probably his best game for the year I thought. His work rate went to another level and their backs just couldn’t keep up with him as a forward. Some of his tap work at the centre bounce and in forward fifty stoppages was very, very good. It was great to see him get to work and get rewarded for it.” 

Nick Shipley – 26 disposals, 10 marks, one tackle, six inside-50s,
“Shipley played a role for us on the wing this week and he was sensational. His running up and down the ground was fantastic. Whenever some of our players were in trouble, they knew he was going to be there on the outside. I thought he played his role fantastically but also he got on the end of the footy as well which I think is something that he’s added to his strengths now.” 

Connor Idun – 16 disposals, seven marks, two tackles
“Connor again was very solid; the ball was coming in fast at times and he rarely got beaten one-on-one. He started to get a bit more of the footy which is what we’re asking so it was another really solid game.” 

Jake Stein – 21 disposals, five marks, six tackles
“Ball in hand he was fantastic on the weekend. He had 17 kicks at 100 per cent efficiency so that was good to see from him, but again he’s just in some super form. His leadership was superb being captain for the day. He’s in some great form and his development this year has gone up again.”

Callum Brown – 13 disposals, three marks
“Another learning game for Cal which was good to see. It’s been a big year for Cal to keep continuing week-in, week-out at an AFL standard is tough but with ball in hand he’s so fast and so strong. He’s still learning his craft down back, he’s only played three or four games there now and he’s still learning how to beat his player which is what we want. When he gets in a one-on-one and gets some good body on he’s rarely beaten.”