The GIANTS Reserves have suffered a heartbreaking loss to the NT Thunder with a goal after the siren handing the visitors a four-point win at Spotless Stadium on Saturday.
Depsite trailing by 34-points during the second quarter, the GIANTS staged a stirring comeback and led by two points before the Thunder’s Francis Kinthari marked inside fifty with just seconds remaining.
The small forward went back and cooly slotted the winning goal after the siren, delivering his side a 15.7 (97) to 14.9 (93) win and overturning what looked like being the GIANTS’ second win of the season.
Despite the loss, GIANTS Head of Development and Welfare Brett Hand said the coaching group was full of admiration for their side’s ability to fight back and put themselves in a position to win the game.
“As a coaching group we were really gutted for the boys who have been through the hard times over the last few weeks,” he said.
“To get so close and to have them kick a goal after the siren was really shattering, but we couldn’t have been prouder.
“To have a scoreboard win in the end would have been really good but we’re really pleased with the effort.”
The GIANTS were also buoyed by the performances of Isaac Cumming, Will Setterfield and Harry Perryman.
Cumming produced one of his best games for the GIANTS collecting 26 disposals, with the majority of his touches coming in the second half as he played a key role in his side’s comeback.
“He found some real value in the defence this week and found some good run out of the backline,” Hand said.
“He had some good one-on-one contests and used the ball well going forward, he was really dangerous going forward.”
In his second game back from injury, Setterfield put together an incredible all-round performance, finishing with 31 disposals, two goals and 17 tackles.
“He is a tough inside-mid, he just went to work and won seven clearances as well as 17 tackles which was a big effort,” Hand said.
“His decision making was excellent too, he wasn’t rushed and his ball use was pretty good going forward.
“Will didn’t just win contested possessions either, he aslo won some loose ball too so we’re really happy with that.”
Perryman also stood out, gathering 27 touches and kicking two goals playing both in defence and on the ball.
“We found he was having a real impact when he went on ball, so we moved him into the middle in the second half and he was really clean,” Hand said.
“His ability to absorb the pressure and not cough the ball up was impressive.”
The GIANTS Reserves travel to the Gold Coast to take on the Southport Sharks on Saturday at 12pm.
