GIANTS star defender Nick Haynes has paid tribute to the Orange Army when reflecting on the memorable 2019 Preliminary Final victory.

Haynes was the special co-host of the most recent GIANTS Rewatchables podcast which pulled apart arguably the club’s most famous victory.

Having starred for the GIANTS with a game high 30 possessions across half back, Haynes was perfectly positioned to relive the day.

“I was quite shocked actually when we kicked our first goal of the game through Jeremy Finlayson and I remember feeling a roar and I was shocked as we were at the MCG and the whole end of the ground where we kicked to in that first quarter erupted.

“You could hear them and it was so loud. To hear the Orange Army down in Melbourne made me smile when that happened and it was a really proud moment as there has been some dark days at the MCG.”

For those new to the GIANTS family, the 2019 Preliminary Final has gone down in folklore with the undermanned GIANTS holding off the fast finishing Magpies in front of their vocal fans. 

When Jeremy Cameron kicked his third goal at the start of the fourth quarter, the GIANTS had opened up a 32 point lead.

But despite only kicking three goals for the game until that point, the Magpies fought back to dominate possession and territory in the fourth term to get within four points.

Some Herculean efforts by Haynes and a number of team mates including Sam Taylor, Shane Mumford, Zac Williams, Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper saw the GIANTS hold on and advance to the club’s first AFL Grand Final.

This was all done without Toby Greene (suspended) and Lachie Whitfield (appendix) who had both played prominent roles throughout the early parts of the finals series.

While footy is on hold, the GIANTS will chose a game a week to rewatch and live tweet and then discuss as a podcast.