GIANTS coach Leon Cameron says his side's response to a disappointing 32-point loss to Collingwood on Saturday will show if the performance was an aberration.
GWS kicked seven goals in the opening term against the Pies to lead by 24 points at the first break, but capitulated under the visitors' pressure over the remaining three quarters.
Collingwood was smashed in the clearances and contested ball in the first term but, led by ruckman Brodie Grundy, former GIANTS Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams, plus captain Scott Pendlebury, they stopped the home side's momentum and turned the match in their favour with a stunning nine-goal second quarter.
The Magpies won the clearances 37-19, and the contested possession count 121-100 in the final three terms.
After the match, Cameron said he find out if the poor display was a true indicator of his team’s season they take the field against the Brisbane Lions next Sunday.
"Time will tell, really," the coach said.
"We obviously haven't returned after the bye in the shape we needed too, but Collingwood, to their credit after quarter-time, were just too hard for us.
"I don't think you could just say that it was the bye that was the issue. I think it was Collingwood's pressure and their intensity was a bit too good for us today.
"Our boys are disappointed - we're all disappointed because you can deal with getting beaten if the effort is there, but I thought our effort wasn't to the level it needed to be.
"We got dealt what we should have been dealt.
"They (Collingwood) won around the middle of the ground where it mattered most.
"They won the stoppages and won the contested ball; it was a massive turnaround after quarter-time.
"For the next 60 minutes they dominated that area and that’s where the game was won.
Collingwood’s tall forwards Travis Cloke and Jesse White caused the GIANTS’ defence plenty of headaches and shared 33 possessions, 22 marks and seven goals for the day.
Cloke proved too good in his duel with Adam Tomlinson, but Cameron defended his decision to leave the versatile 22-year-old on the veteran, instead of opting to use co-captain Phil Davis as his opponent, saying it was the players up the field who made life hard for the backs.
"I thought 'Tommo' (Adam Tomlinson) battled hard, I mean he (Cloke) is a good player," Cameron said.
"There's no doubt he's been building towards some better form, and it was disappointing it happened coming up against us.
"Defensively our team let the defenders down, but then the defenders needed to be a bit better as well.
"I just don't think our midfield and our forwards really helped our defenders today."
Cameron said speedy defender Nathan Wilson (groin) was a chance to face the Lions next week after he missed the Collingwood game, but midfielder Ryan Griffen could miss another two matches after straining a hamstring during the week.
