GWS v North Melbourne
4:40pm, Sunday April 26
Manuka Oval
Beneath the beautiful autumn skies of the nation’s capital, in the shadow of remembrance that defines Anzac Day and with Manuka church bells ringing the contest between the GWS Giants and North Melbourne Kangaroos unfolded not merely as a game of football, but as a battle of grit, endurance, and rising belief.
This game truly reflected the spirit of the ANZACs. Each passage of play carried the weight of contest and courage, as both sides fought fiercely across the grass of Corroboree Group Oval Manuka; none yielding, neither retreating. It was a match defined by its closeness, an arm wrestle where every metre gained was hard-earned and every mistake punished. It was arguably the match of the Anzac Appeal Round.
Simply put it was a must win game for the Giants.
At the heart of the Giants’ charge stood their captain, Toby Greene, marking a historic milestone as the club’s most capped player with 268 games surpassing former skipper Callan Wards 267.
If you had have asked me way back in 2012 if Toby Greene would be the most decorated player at the fledgling club, I would have scoffed. Probably not: young Toby could amass possessions at will but didn’t kick it that well and was prone to some disciplinary issues both on and off the field. Part of my role in the early years of the Giants was to oversee, educate, monitor and investigate breaches of club code-of-conduct policies and all AFL Integrity matters.
Pleasingly Toby never drew the wrath of the AFL Integrity unit, but he was a young ‘scallywag’ who on occasion needed to be reminded of the expectations of the behaviour of an AFL player.
Love him or hate him make no mistake Toby Greene is a superstar of the game.
His performance on the weekend was one of defiance and leadership, a commander at the front line who refused to be overrun. Greene’s influence surged through the contest with his sharp instincts, relentless pressure, and timely interventions setting the tone for his side. In a moment befitting the occasion, he stood tall when the battle demanded resolve, his leadership echoing the spirit of those commemorated on such a weekend. A defining goal on the run at the most crucial of moments yet another example of his composure under fire.
Alongside him, a new generation answered the call. Ryan Angwin emerged with a breakout performance that signalled his arrival on the big stage, running with purpose and composure beyond his years. His left foot disposal elite. From half-back, Lachie Ash amassed possession after possession, a steady distributor under fire, launching counterattacks with precision and calm. Their contributions were not fleeting moments, but sustained efforts like young soldiers proving their readiness for the battlefield.
In the air and at ground level, the Giants found further strength. Leek Aleer soared with athleticism that defied expectation, his high-leaping feats in the ruck contests lifting his side. When he learns to tap the ball to advantage he will be significant factor. It was an intriguing battle against the Kangaroo warrior Tristian Xerri. The Giants’ current ruck combination of Madden and Aleer must be persevered with and cultivated.
Forward of centre, Aaron Cadman – returning from injury – delivered a display of class and composure, his accuracy in front of goal a decisive weapon when the margins were thin. Charging through contests with brute force and intent was Jake Stringer who brought the power of experience, his bullocking presence breaking lines and lifting the Giants when momentum threatened to waver.
Yet the Kangaroos would not yield. Led by a core of emerging talent, Harry Sheezel, George Wardlaw, Paul Curtis, Luke Davies-Uniacke and Nick Larkey stood firm in the face of relentless pressure. Their efforts were emblematic of a side on the rise; resilient, daring, and increasingly assured. Clarkson’s message is resonating with the young Kangaroos. Time and again they surged forward, closing the gap, testing the Giants’ resolve and ensuring the contest remained alive until the final moments.
I have provided some commentary on my frustration with the stand rule but on Sunday my attention turned firmly to the use or non-use of the ARC. The fiasco that occurred at the St Kilda v West Coast game defied logic. The decision to halt play more than a minute after the goal umpire had waved a behind only to have the ball brought back to the goal line was one thing. But unless I need my dwindling eyesight checked at Specsavers the ball was not controlled by Marshall before it went over the line. Farcical and embarrassing.
Part of the solution: the ball cannot be returned after 30 seconds of continuous play irrespective of the circumstance.
Then in the Giants v Kangaroos clash a decision not to overrule a Giants late goal from a Xavier O’Halloran snap when vision suggested a faint fingertip on the ball had fans and commentators bemused. ‘I’d prefer there was none (technology) and we just leave it up to the umpires to adjudicate,’ said North coach Clarkson post-match.
‘I’m not sure it’s up to speed yet. It doesn’t feel like we’re ahead of other sports. Whether it’s the goal line cameras, whether it’s the ball isn’t fully across the line-we had one of them-I don’t know. If you’ve got something that can help, well do it now, don’t wait.’ said Giants coach Adam Kingsley.
Fans can accept human error, but what they struggle with is selective omniscience. When the ARC intervenes on the obvious but ignores the contentious, it creates the impression that the system isn’t there to correct mistakes but to randomly audition for relevance.
Notwithstanding the ARC controversy the last siren loomed, the battle remained undecided and in the end the Giants prevailed over a gallant Kangaroo outfit; it was a contest that honoured the Anzac spirit of discipline, sacrifice, and unyielding determination.
But not a great week for the AFL-again. Butters tribunal reversal, Collard appeal board controversy resulting in the dismissal of the Appeal Board Chair, the infuriating stand rule and the baffling usage or non-usage of the ARC will have AFL officialdom pondering and searching for answers in the ever-evolving soap opera that is the Australian Football League.
GWS GIANTS 3.2 7.7 10.10 15.15 (105)
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.3 7.7 9.10 14.14 (98)
GOALS
GWS: Stringer, Cadman 3, Hogan, Greene 2, Thoams, O’Halloran, Gothard, Daniels, Aleer
North Melbourne: Larkey 4, Curtis 2, Wardlaw, Spargo, Simpkin, Sheezel, Parker, O’Sullivan, Dovaston, Darling
BEST
GWS: Greene, Ash, Angwin, Oliver, Daniels
North Melbourne: Xerri, Parker, O’Sullivan, Sheezel, Larkey
Crowd: 12,000
To return to our Footy Almanac home page click HERE.
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help things keep ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – click HERE.
Leave a Comment