GWS coach Adam Kingsley is daring to dream after Jesse Hogan fired the Giants to a fourth consecutive victory and to the brink of the AFL top eight with a 13-point win over Hawthorn.
The Giants only shook off a dogged Hawks outfit when Hogan goaled with less than two minutes remaining, but it was enough for Kingsley to declare “anything’s possible” after the 12.13 (85) to 10.12 (72) triumph on Saturday.
The goal was Hogan’s fourth and a season-high for the spearhead who was the outstanding forward on the field, while Stephen Coniglio was superb throughout with 30 disposals and three goals in a hard-fought contest at Giants Stadium.
“I think anything’s possible,” Kingsley said of the Giants’ aims for the rest of the season.
“We’ve got two months to play, we’ve got some really tough games. We need to be winning our away games, which we’ve been quite good at.
“So if we can do that, get our home games in the bank, who knows what’s possible.”
Former GWS captain Coniglio continued his stirring return to form as Finn Maginness restricted last week’s matchwinner Josh Kelly to just six disposals for his lowest tally since 2015.
“I thought they did a great job on Josh,” Kingsley said.
“But again, in circumstances such as that, we need other guys to step up and we’re not relying on one or two players to win, that’s important.”
Another former GWS skipper Callan Ward (19 disposals) was one to fill the gap along with Finn Callaghan and Harry Perryman battled hard despite the Hawks being superior at the stoppages.
Blake Hardwick helped keep Toby Greene goalless for the first time this season, but Hogan and Jake Riccardi (three goals) made enough of the Giants’ opportunities in the forward half.
A fifth win in six matches boosts the Giants’ (8-8) finals hopes, while the Hawks (4-12) have now lost their past three matches despite being more competitive this time after back-to-back beltings.
While Maginness and Hardwick clamped down on the Giants’ major weapons, the Hawks’ young guns Jai Newcombe (28 disposals, nine clearances), Conor Nash (27, five) and Will Day (26, three) made their mark in the midfield.
The brave Hawks threatened deep into the final term as they regularly found a way to burst away from the centre bounces and dominated those stoppages 17-6, though they were left to rue missed late opportunities.
“I thought we produced the top range of what we’re capable of at the minute. We just weren’t quite good enough,” Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said.
“It was a game that came down to key moments and they were just a bit too good in a couple of those.”
GWS will be on the road to face Adelaide on Saturday, while Hawthorn will look to snap their three-match losing streak against North Melbourne on Sunday.
