GIANTS forward Toby Greene has brushed aside the heavy criticism aimed at his side after last week's shock draw to St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
The GIANTS looked like cruising to an important win when veteran Brett Deledio slotted a set shot early in the last term, but the visitors blew several chances to seal the game and allowed the Saints to boot the last three goals to draw level.
North Melbourne legend Wayne Carey used his media spots on Triple M and Channel Seven to declare that the GIANTS couldn't win a final this year with their current playing style of 'pretty football'.
Other commentators doubted the killer instinct of Leon Cameron's men after they failed to beat the struggling Saints.
Greene said the doubters are off the mark and pointed out that the GIANTS' record in games decided by 18 points or less last
"Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but I'd have to disagree with those comments," he said.
"We're building a brand and I think you'll see over the next few weeks and months that we'll stand up when it matters.
"We've got some big games coming up, so we'll see where we're at in a few weeks' time.
"Last year we won a lot of close games, so I guess you can't really say we perform poorly in the tight ones.
"Last week we should have put the Saints away, but at the same time they probably played better than us for most of the day and we were lucky to still be in it.
"That game was a poor reflection of us, but I wouldn't say we lack killer instinct."
Greene was one of the off-target culprits in the last term when he missed his chance to steady the GIANTS in the dying
"You always want to make an impact when it matters and stand up in the big moments, and I'm sure every player is the same," he said.
With three wins for the opening five
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"The Collingwood win (in round two) was probably better than people thought at the time, given how well they're going at the moment, and Fremantle is another team going better than people might have thought at the start of the year," he said.
"We've got four big games coming up and if we can win them then you'd have to say our season is going pretty well."