Six goals from Coleman Medal leader Jeremy Cameron has led the GIANTS to a 44-point win over St Kilda at UNSW Canberra oval on Saturday.
The GIANTS set up their victory with a clinical eight-goal opening term but had to work extremely hard to fend off the plucky Saints for the rest of the match, with Cameron's hot form too much for the underdogs to overcome.
He kicked three goals either side of half-time and took 11 marks, six of those contested for the day in the 18.6 (114) to 10.10 (70) victory.
Despite their poor start, the visitors won the inside 50 count 37-16 in the second and third terms but couldn't turn those opportunities into scoreboard pressure, managing just 5.7 to the GIANTS' 5.4.
Zac Williams (30 possessions), Nick Haynes (26), Sam Taylor and Sam Reid were superb in the back half for the GIANTS and repelled the constant flow of St Kilda attacks, while Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper and Stephen Coniglio shared 73 touches to continue their stellar ball-winning form.
GIANTS tagger Matt de Boer limited the influence of Saint Jade Gresham in the first half, while youngster Isaac Cumming also did a job on attacking defender Shane Savage, who gathered just four disposals before the long break.
St Kilda runners Seb Ross and Jack Steele – who had a good battle with Coniglio – tried hard through the midfield, while ruckman Rowan Marshall had the better of his duel with aggressive GIANT Shane Mumford and finished with two goals.
The GIANTS started brilliantly when Cameron and Jeremy Finlayson kicked two goals apiece in the first term, and it looked like being a rout when Cameron snagged a third just three minutes into the second.
But with injured stars Josh Kelly (adductor) and Lachie Whitfield (thigh) missing, the GIANTS lacked efficiency going forward, and the Saints worked their way back into the game.
Matthew Parker, Jonathon Marsh and Marshall booted three in a row to reduce the deficit to 24 points at half-time, and another to West Australian Blake Acres shortly after the break had the Saints within 16.
They controlled the game and continually pumped the ball inside 50, but Parker hit the post from a simple set shot from 30 metres out dead in front, and the GIANTS swept the ball the length of the ground where Cameron nailed his fourth.
He then added a fifth and two more from fellow tall forward Harry Himmelberg in quick succession ended the Saints' charge.
The only downside for the GIANTS was injuries to Adam Kennedy (head knock), who played no part in the second half, and key defender Aidan Corr (ankle).
