1. A week is a long time in footy, unless you're Richmond
Following a heartbreaking loss after the siren to Fremantle last week, things couldn't possibly have gotten any worse for the Tigers, but somehow, they did. They booted six goals in the opening term and led by 27 points early in the last, but with the finishing line in sight, the Tigers choked on the four points again. The GIANTS kicked the only five goals of the final quarter to repeat their unbelievable comeback win of last week, with Jeremy Cameron taking over the hero duties from Steve Johnson. Debutant Shai Bolton even looked to have sealed the game for Richmond when he snapped one late to put the visitors eight points clear, but the video review overturned the decision, and the GIANTS took full advantage thanks to a Nathan Wilson bomb, and another end-to-end goal.
2. The GIANTS’ mounting injury list is taking a toll
The immense amount of talent on the list has helped the GIANTS cover the long-term absence of Stephen Coniglio (ankle), Nick Haynes (hamstring), Ryan Griffen (ankle), Jacob Hopper (finger), Matt Buntine (knee) and Adam Kennedy (knee), as well as Tendai Mzungu (hamstring) and the non-appearance of recruit Brett Deledio (calf). But while the GIANTS managed to steal a win last week over Collingwood, and repeated the dose against the hapless Tigers, the signs are there that Leon Cameron's men are starting to struggle. The GIANTS midfielders Josh Kelly, Dylan Shiel, Tom Scully and Callan Ward have done a power of work with Coniglio, Griffen and Hopper missing, and while the inclusion of Lachie Whitfield has helped, that star quartet aren't getting the support they need. The bye is still three weeks away for the GIANTS and they face a long trip to Perth to take on West Coast next week, with plenty of their biggest names unavailable.
3. What happened to the Alex Rance versus Jeremy Cameron battle?
Fans would have been expecting the game's best key defender to lock onto Cameron, who led the Coleman medal heading into round nine, but they were let down when Rance went to Jonathan Patton at the opening bounce. All Australian for the past three seasons, Rance dominated the GIANTS back 50 and outpointed the big GIANT in most of the pair's one-on-one duals, especially close to goal. Cameron looked dangerous at times with two first-half goals but Damien Hardwick refused to budge and backed Dylan Grimes to do the job, which he did, until the star GIANT bobbed up to nail the winner. Rance was near best on ground in the loss, and you have to wonder, if Richmond would have walked away with the points if he'd taken on Cameron.
4. Contract talk or not, Dustin Martin and Josh Kelly just can't be stopped
They're two of the best midfielders in the competition, and both out of contract at the end of this season, but the constant speculation over their futures is having no effect on Martin and Kelly. The Tiger racked up a game-high 35 possessions, 20 of those contested, 10 inside 50s and five clearances, while the GIANT had 32 touches, six clearances and five tackles, as the pair put on a show at Spotless Stadium. Martin's goalkicking let him down especially with a set shot in the tense last term, but there's little doubt opposition sides find it near on impossible to shut him down. Kelly's lethal left foot and his lightning step make him just as hard to counter, and who knows, the star duo could share something else at the end of the year, apart from a new deal, when the Brownlow votes are counted.
5. Hand of god?
If playing your first game of AFL football isn’t enough, how about helping the GIANTS win by the skin of your fingers. That’s exactly what Harry Perryman did, with his two desperate smothers in the final minutes saving the GIANTS as the Tigers looked set to kick the clincher. After initially being signalled a goal, a review showed that the Collingullie kid got the slightest of touches, not only cancelling out Shai Bolton’s goal but giving the GIANTS possession of the ball. From the kick-in the GIANTS got the ball into the hands of Jeremy Cameron who did the rest to send GIANTS fans home happy and break Tiger hearts.