GWS have taken a massive step towards locking in an AFL finals berth with a 39-point win over the Tigers that has all but killed off the Tigers’ top-eight hopes.
The loss of talisman Toby Greene to suspension mattered little to the Giants in a blistering display on Friday, with the likes of Josh Kelly, Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto taking it upon themselves to lift their side.
Regular midfielder Taranto spent the night in Greene’s attacking role and kicked a career-best four goals as a slick and efficient GWS outfit proved far too strong in a 16.10 (106) to 10.7 (67) victory at Marvel Stadium.
“We haven’t won two in a row for a while, so that’s really pleasing, but overall it was really pleasing that our supporters have seen us again on a Friday night playing a good brand of footy,” Giants coach Leon Cameron said.
“We know the equation, we’ve known it for five weeks, that we just need to keep winning and keep presenting ourselves in a manner that’s going to give us an opportunity to be able to win games.”
GWS vice-captain Greene’s one-match ban for striking meant Kelly – days after signing a massive new eight-year contract with the club – stood in as captain on return from a quad injury in the ongoing absence of regular skipper Stephen Coniglio.
Kelly (32 disposals and 11 tackles) was busy throughout the night, with Hopper (26 disposals and nine clearances) also influential.
“(Kelly) has been absolutely first-class,” Cameron said.
“His performance as an individual was really good … I’m really rapt for him and that (contract) is a really big decision off his mind now, he can just get to work and play footy.”
Nick Haynes continued his outstanding season with another composed performance as the leader of an inexperienced GWS defence and Harry Himmelberg kicked three goals up forward.
Richmond captain Trent Cotchin (31 disposals and eight clearances) and fellow midfielder Dion Prestia (22 and nine) battled hard in a losing side.
The Tigers kicked four goals to one in the final term to trim some fat off the margin but couldn’t prevent GWS inflicting what could be the killer blow to Richmond’s premiership defence.
A win for West Coast this weekend would officially end the Tigers’ hopes of a third-straight flag before the last round of the home-and-away season – while an Essendon victory would not do Richmond any favours.
“We’ve made our job harder and I think there’s a slight mathematical chance,” coach Damien Hardwick said.
“Whilst we’re not going anywhere near as well as we’d like, the side we played looked a million bucks, so all credit to GWS and the way they played.
“They might be hitting their straps at the right time.”
AAP
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