The WSU GIANTS have moved into the top four on the NEAFL ladder after defeating the top of the table Swans Reserves at the SCG on Saturday.
Led by regular AFL players Lachie Whitfield and Matt Buntine, the GIANTS took down an inaccurate Swans side with strong performances across the board.
“They’re a quality outfit and I thought the boys were terrific to take away their strengths and play to ours so it was a really good result,” said NEAFL coach Brad Miller.
The Swans have lost just two games for the season - both to the GIANTS - with their first loss of the year a one-point victory to the WSU GIANTS in round 11.
This time it was a strong 25-point win on their home ground at the SCG with just 10 listed players.
“To back it up and beat them on their home deck was impressive. Across the board it was really hard to find someone who didn’t contribute.”
Defender Matt Buntine had 27 touches and 11 marks in a best on ground performance as he returned from three weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
“He was critical. He, along with the other back six that formed our back seven for the day, were just terrific,” Miller said.
“His ability to win one-on-one contests and organise the defence, he just didn’t put a foot wrong all day. I was really pleased to have him back there.”
Fellow defender Tim Mohr also returned from injury and picked up eight touches as he played his first full game since round nine.
“It was really good to see Mohry get through a full game. He’s obviously had a pretty rough run this year so for him to put through four quarters and come off with a smile on his face was really pleasing for him.”
Enigmatic forward Will Hoskin-Elliott also impressed with 29 disposals, 10 marks and two goals after an injury-interrupted season.
“He got his chance through the middle as well just because of personnel who either missed the game through injury or had been called up to the seniors,” Miller said.
“We were missing a lot of our normal midfielders so for him and Lachie Whitfield to get their run through the middle, I thought Will was terrific.
“He runs really well so he covers the ground and is really hard to defend but he was able to go forward and take marks and kick goals as well.”
Whitfield played managed game time after withdrawing late from the GIANTS’ round 17 match against the Lions with tonsillitis. The former number one draft pick played around 55 per cent of the match for the WSU GIANTS.
“He was terrific … Went through the midfield, ran really hard all day and didn’t look affected at all,” Miller said.
“It was really pleasing for him to be able to get up and play and to be able to play at the level he did.”
The WSU GIANTS are sitting in fourth spot on the NEAFL ladder after 17 rounds with nine wins and six losses for the season.
They have a bye this weekend before facing the Gold Coast Suns Reserves at Metricon Stadium on August 6, with just three more games to go for the season.
“We had a good run there, we’ve won five of our last six I think it is so it’s really pleasing for the guys,” Miller said.
“A few of those wins have come off the back of us being fairly undermanned as well so we’ve had some contributions from our young Academy players who have stood up when they’ve needed to.
“We’ve got three games to go and then you never know and we’ll see how far we can go.”
Swans Reserves 4.19 (43) def. by WSU GIANTS 10.8 (68)
Goals: James Stewart 3, Will Hoskin-Elliott 2, Matthew Flynn, Fletcher Carroll, Lachie Whitfield, Connor Byrne, Alex Paech
Best: Matthew Buntine, Jeremy Finlayson, Jake Barrett, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Pat McKenna, Dawson Simpson
