The GIANTS Reserves finished their 2017 NEAFL season with a heartbreaking five point loss to the Brisbane Lions Reserves at Spotless Stadium on Saturday. 

After trailing by 14 points at quarter time the GIANTS seized control of the match and carried a two goal lead into the last quarter, before the second placed Lions finished strongly to claim the 13.10 (88) to 14.9 (93) victory.

Despite the result, GIANTS NEAFL Coach Brad Miller was full of praise for his side’s competiveness throughout the match against one of the top sides in the competition. 

“I thought for 98 per cent of the game we were the better team and our boys were really up for the fight,” Miller said.

“We’re bitterly disappointed to go down the way we did and lose by the five points but from an effort point of view our guys were outstanding.” 

Miller highlighted the tireless performance of Matthew Flynn in the ruck, playing the majority of the game in the position due to Dawson Simpson’s late withdrawal from the side.

“He was right up there in terms of being our best player on the ground,” Miller said. 

“I thought his ability to bring the ball to ground in a marking contest and his follow up work at ground level was first class. 

“Whenever we have thrown him a challenge throughout the year he has responded and today was no different.”

GIANTS midfielders Matthew Kennedy (37 disposals) and Will Setterfield (31 disposals & ten tackles) were the major beneficiaries of Flynn’s excellent ruckwork, with Tim Taranto (29 disposals) also spending time in the middle on his return from the ankle injury that has kept him out since the GIANTS round 14 AFL win over Brisbane. 

“I thought all of those young mids were really just terrific from start to finish,” Miller said 

“It was exciting for the future of the club seeing those young guys get to play together and compete and fight the way that they did. 

“It was really pleasing that Tim got through unscathed and no doubt him and a few of the others who performed strongly today will be putting their hand up for selection over the next couple of weeks.”

 

Upon reflecting on the difficult season the GIANTS Reserves had endured due in part to the club’s long injury list that saw his side at times field as few as three AFL listed players, Miller was still able to see the positive impact it’s had on the team.

“Under duress I thought all our guys had to shoulder a really massive workload for nearly the whole season and I thought they did it extremely well, “he said. 

“We have had guys that have had exposure to different roles throughout the year and it’s been great for their development.

“A lot of the guys have really come along in leaps and bounds and improved throughout the year so that’s been a real positive.”

Meanwhile Dawson Simpson was named in the 2017 NEAFL Team of the Year on Sunday night during the competition's annual awards night at the Sofitel Brisbane Central.

GIANTS Reserves  13.10(88)

Lions Reserves 14.9(93)

Goals: Tiziani, Sproule 3; Briggs 2; Flynn, Gaynor, Setterfield, Lucas, Taranto 1.