The last of GIANTS Media’s previews heading into Friday’s Kevin Sheedy Medal looks at how the forwards fared in 2018.
New faces stepped up played their role over the course of the season, young players upped the ante and Jeremy Cameron once again led the way.
Jeremy Cameron
The GIANTS spearhead and past Sheedy Medallist finished another season with 40+ goals as he topped the GIANTS’ goalkicking tally for the seventh year in a row. He had two hauls of six goals, one four-goal effort and four three-goal efforts as he finished with 46 goals for the season.
Season averages:
15.2 disposals (above average), 6.2 marks (above average), 2.6 goals per game (above average), 5.4 shots at goal (elite), 9.6 effective disposals (above average), 2.9 inside 50s (above average).
Standout performance:
Round 12 against Gold Coast. It was one of two three-vote efforts for Cameron on Brownlow night, and it’s not hard to see why. Six goals, 26 disposals (10 contested), nine marks (five inside 50), five inside 50 entries and three one-percenters.
Harry Himmelberg
The third-year GIANT really stepped up and cemented his place in the forward line in 2018. He played all 24 games for the GIANTS – doubling his 2017 appearances – booted 29 goals and provided a strong target in the forward line for the GIANTS, acting as a foil for Jeremy Cameron and also standing tall in his absence.
Season averages:
12.7 disposals, 70.5% disposal efficiency (above average), 1.2 goals per game, 2 spoils (above average), 0.4 intercept marks (above average), 0.9 tackles inside 50 (above average), 4.3 ground ball gets (above average), 0.7 goal assists (above average).
Standout performance:
Elimination final against the Swans. A little wayward kicking in front of the big sticks stunted his goal tally somewhat, but it was nevertheless a very strong performance from Himmelberg, who clunked some impressive marks. He finished with nine in total, to go with 23 disposals, two goals, four inside 50s, four tackles and a clearance.
Matt de Boer
Injuries limited de Boer to 15 games in 2018 – the same number as he managed in his first year at the GIANTS last season – but his stats went up a notch or two. The GIANTS leadership group member had 80 more disposals, six more goals, and spending roughly six per cent more time on the ground each game as he continued to play a valuable role up forward.
Season averages:
18.9 disposals, 74.9% disposal efficiency (above average), 60.9% goal accuracy (elite), 0.9 goals per game, 4.1 tackles (above average), 1.5 tackles inside 50 (elite), 6.3 ground ball gets (above average).
Standout performance:
Round six against Brisbane. De Boer produced a career-best 35-disposal effort against the Lions at Spotless Stadium, with 11 of his possessions contested. He also laid five tackles, took four marks, had three clearances, three rebound 50s and a goal.
Zac Langdon
The mature-aged recruit made an instant impact at the GIANTS, earning his debut in the season-opener and bringing pressure and excitement to the forward line for 21 games, missing just three matches over the season, all through injury.
Season averages:
9.1 disposals, 72.8% disposal efficiency (above average), 49% contested possession rate (elite), 1 goal per game, 63.6% goal accuracy (elite), 1.3 one-percenters (above average, 4.1 tackles (elite), 1.7 tackles inside 50 (elite), 1.1 spoils (above average).
Standout performance:
Round 17 against Richmond. The 22-year-old kicked the most goals of any GIANT in the two-point win over the reigning premier, and his 15 disposals came at an incredible 93.3% efficiency. He also clunked six marks (four inside 50), laid four tackles and had three one-percenters.
Tim Taranto
There were no second-year blues for midfielder/forward Taranto, who played 23 of a possible 24 games in 2018. The tackling machine finished the season with 140 tackles – ranked equal ninth in the league.
Season averages:
20.8 disposals (above average), 9.3 contested possessions (above average), 6.1 tackles (elite), 1 tackle inside 50 (elite), 3.7 clearances (above average), 6.5 ground ball gets (above average), 0.6 contested marks (above average), 1.2 score launches (above average), 1.6 one-percenters (above average).
Standout performance:
Round one against Western Bulldogs. Taranto started the year with a bang, collecting a career-high 32 disposals, as well as launching the ball inside 50 10 times, clearing the ball eight times and taking six marks, two of them contested. He laid five tackles and, while he bettered that total 13 times over the season, it was still a solid return and signalled his intent.
Ryan Griffen
In what would be his last season, the now retired GIANT shook off an injury-delayed start to the season and showed what an impact he could have in the GIANTS’ forward line. He averaged a goal a game over 16 appearances and added his experience to a younger forward six mix.
Season averages:
15 disposals (above average), 6.6 contested possessions (above average), 4.9 ground ball gets (above average), 0.7 contested marks (above average), 2.1 shots at goal (above average), 1.4 one-percenters (above average), one goal per game.
Standout performance:
Round 11 against Adelaide. It was the game that turned the GIANTS’ season around, and Griffen played his part in the performance. He booted three goals – equal most on the ground with Langdon – had 22 disposals (10 contested), six inside 50s, two tackles and two marks.
Sam Reid
2018 saw Reid produce the most appearances in a single season of his nine-year career, playing 21 games and showing his versatility to play a number of different roles as required by the team.
Season averages
10.7 disposals, 42.1 contested possession rate (elite), 2.9 tackles (above average), 0.7 tackles inside 50 (elite), 1.4 shots at goal (elite), 0.5 stoppage clearances (above average), 0.8 spoils.
Standout performance
Round 15 against Hawthorn. In a tough game against eventual semi-finalists Hawthorn, Reid collected a season-high 16 disposals (seven contested), laid six tackles, had five inside 50s, three marks, two one-percenters and a goal assist.
