It would be safe to say that the Giants were on edge as the guarantee of top spot on the ladder was up for grabs.
Although the Giants went in light handed it was the Saints who could only field 16 this week and with no wings the game was set to potentially open up with the Giant’s running game.
Rhys Goodley and Josh Hyland started the game strongly for the Giants both kicking 2 majors in the first quarter. A lot was resting on the shoulders of Brady Purcell playing on the dangerous Riley Bouker and apart from giving away a silly free kick, Brady had the better of the dual early.
The second quarter saw goal sneak Tom Levy go down with a pretty nasty ankle injury that would see him take no further part. Fingers crossed that it is nothing too serious. In this quarter Adam Walsh kicked his second goal and he looked set for a big game dominating play across the middle and half forward line. The Giants went into half time with 30 point lead.
Benny Wap implored his team at half time to keep the effort up in the third quarter and he would have been pretty happy with what he saw. The Giants where much harder at the footy and they opened the Saints up time after time with pressured turnovers.
With the damage already done the Giants were simply too good for the Saints and went on to score a convincing win.
David Button played his best game in a while and was terrific in the backline this week and he had plenty of mates. The back six made life pretty torrid for the Saints all day and just about every score was under severe pressure. Rhys Goodley is getting better each game and was just too good overhead and at ground level kicking 5 goals. Brady Purcell did a number on Riley Bouker and was amongst the best again. Adam Walsh gave 100% this week and was irrepressible. James Davies was also very good and the 60m hand off bomb was a highlight and some icing on the cake in the last.
The Giants are playing their best footy at the right time of the year and now have a luxury of a week off by finishing on top.
Great to see the game played in good spirits by both the Saints and the Giants.
Giants
17-12-114 def. Myrtleford 5-9-39
Goal Kickers: R. Goodley 5, A. Walsh 3, J. Hyland 3, J. Davies 2, L. Dunne, T. Ryan, T. Levy, M. Gander
Best Players: A. Walsh, R. Goodley, B. Purcell, J. Davies, D. Button, L. Dunne
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