Cameron’s big moment

He had a tough night against a talented opponent in Darcy Moore, but Jeremy Cameron never stopped looking for a way into the game and played his part in securing a brave two-point win, 66-64. Cameron got on the board early, but it was his second goal late in the game that made sure the GIANTS had a chance to hold on. He found himself on the end of a quick Callan Ward kick, held onto the mark, went back and slotted his kick from right on the 50 metre line to push the GIANTS eight points ahead with just a few minutes left to play. Collingwood dominated the inside-50s during the last quarter and missed some chances, but Cameron didn’t let his moment pass.

Back on the winner’s list

It’s been a difficult couple of weeks but the GIANTS are back at 2-2 with games against Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Richmond coming up next. Lots of players had their say in the two-point win: Lachie Whitfield ran his heart out, Toby Greene was brilliant, Zac Williams got the team going early with his dash and dare, Callan Ward laid some big tackles, Matt De Boer kept Steele Sidebottom and others reasonably quiet, Josh Kelly was important late too and Tom Green had some very big moments under pressure in his second game. The defenders, together, held on desperately, especially after Phil Davis injured his hamstring to miss much of the second half. The last quarter felt a lot like last year’s preliminary final with the Pies heading inside-50 time and time again, and it took some grit across the board for the GIANTS to get over the line.

That Greene goal

He wasn’t there last week and he wasn’t there the last time the GIANTS played the Pies, either. But Toby Greene was definitely in this game, and absolutely back to a few of his old tricks. How to describe his goal late in the second quarter? Well, he jumped up at a Stephen Coniglio sky ball in the forward pocket. He went to spoil the ball, he actually found a way to grab it and he thought for a second about trying to claim the mark even though the kick hadn’t gone nearly far enough. Then he dropped the ball onto his boot as he took the quickest of looks over his shoulder, snapping the second of his three goals. If that description doesn’t quite work, take another look at it here.

And that Green goal

Back in the side for the first time since his round one debut, Tom Green’s clean hands made a genuine difference in the GIANTS’ midfield. Together he, Jackson Hately and Jye Caldwell have shown this season that they can match it at this level. Green did most of his work in the middle but was also able to get his very first AFL goal on the board, getting on the end of a short handball chain, steering his kick through from 40 metres. His night got better and better from there: with some tough, hard ball wins, some clear thinking and some clean hands and composure in what was a tight and tense last few minutes, Green made sure his team held on. Eighteen disposals, 12 contested possessions, six score involvements and seven clearances, three of them in the last term: it wasn't a bad second game.

He’s back

There it was: the No. 41, back in action for the first time this year. Brought into the side for his first game this year, Mumford had a great tussle with Brodie Grundy, helped set up some big clearances for his midfielders, scrapped for the ball when it hit the ground and competed against Brodie Grundy at a few crucial stoppages as the final seconds wound down. With his help the GIANTS were able to win the clearances 35-32 despite losing the hit-outs. The game against the Pies was 33-year-old Mumford's 93^rd in GIANTS colours: another seven until his little boys become father-son eligible (no pressure!)

Harry Perryman Coleman Medal Watch

Just the one goal for Harry this week, who got on the board courtesy of a Brent Daniels give midway through the third term, kicking his ninth straight goal for the year and putting the GIANTS three goals ahead before Collingwood’s fightback meant scores were pretty much level again at the last break. That leaves him one behind Swan Tom Papley, who booted two against the Bulldogs on Thursday night.