Leon Cameron has lauded Sam Taylor's "unbelievably awesome" impact after the inexperienced defender played a crucial role in the GIANTS' stunning 19-point upset of Geelong.

Coming off a five-day break, the GIANTS made eight forced changes to their team and picked 10 players with fewer than 25 games' experience for the GMHBA Stadium clash.

Taylor stood tall as part of an undermanned defensive unit, limiting Coleman medallist Tom Hawkins to one goal and repelling countless Cats' attacks.

It was the 22-year-old's fifth game back from an ankle injury that sidelined him for almost two months.

"If he wasn't injured throughout the middle of the year, he'd be probably in line for his first All-Australian (jumper)," Cameron said.

"He reads the ball so well, he wants to take on the big forwards and clearly there's none bigger than Hawkins.

"He's a wonderful player and (Taylor) will learn a lot from that."

Geelong cut a 38-point margin back to nine points in the final term and had enough time to steal a come-from-behind win.

But the GIANTS ultimately held firm under pressure for a gutsy victory that boosted their finals chances, with Taylor a central figure in the closing stages.

"Sam's significant last quarter was just first-class," Cameron said.

"He likes those big moments and he seems to keep doing them week in week out.

"Our boys just grow so much confidence when he's out there."

Taylor played 22 games in his breakout second season, in 2019, and featured in the GIANTS' grand final loss to Richmond that year.

But he managed just four games last season as a rare infection left him unable to walk properly for three months and caused him to lose 11kg.

"He had to start again and he did that and he got his pre-season right," Cameron said.

"We were having a great season with him and then we lost him with the ankle injury but Sammy's come back and really stamped his importance with our back seven."

The GIANTS are now in their eighth week on the road, having fled coronavirus-hit Sydney in late June.

Players and staff were buoyed this week when they were reunited with their families at their temporary base in Melbourne after weeks apart.

The GIANTS next take on Richmond in the penultimate home-and-away round as the finals race nears its climax.