Deja vu for GWS coach after Giants come from the clouds

Fourth-quarter comebacks on home turf are shaping as a familiar tale for GWS coach Adam Kingsley after a comeback win over Gold Coast.
The Suns slammed through the first four goals at Engie Stadium on Sunday, but Kingsley wasn't overly worried.
A fortnight ago the Giants overcame a 28-point deficit against Richmond to win by three points.
A third-quarter time message by Callan Ward, who had ruptured his ACL, proved pivotal.
Staring down a 22-point difference on Sunday, Giants young gun Aaron Cadman kicked his second goal to spark another comeback.
Cadman's goal was followed by seven more, with substitute Jake Stringer kicking the match-winner in their 16.10 (106) to 14.15 (99) victory.
"I didn't have Wardy this time, that was the only difference," Kingsley said.
"To be down at three-quarter time, our guys know that we've been able to do that in the past and so we built great confidence out of being able to do it.
"But you've then got to go and do it against what was and is a really good team.
"That doesn't mean we always do it, and we're going to make mistakes, of course, but when we put it together, I think we're a pretty good team."
Sunday's clash was dubbed the biggest yet of the so-called Expansion Cup, given both of the AFL's youngest franchises were in the top eight.
The match was played in front of 10,504 fans - the largest GWS home crowd against Gold Coast.
The Giants are seventh (9-6) on the ladder heading into their round-16 bye, but the Suns dropped to ninth (8-5) after the Western Bulldogs thrashed Richmond on Sunday.
"That naturally builds a little bit more emotion in the game," Kingsley said.
"We understood this was an important game. We're playing against another top-eight team who are a really strong team.
"We had a massive crowd, which suggests there's a sense that both of these teams are good teams.
"Our job is to continue to ... build a rivalry that will last for a long period of time."
Kingsley praised Stringer, who was the perfect foil to young key forward Cadman.
Stringer was playing his first game since round nine after overcoming his second hamstring injury of the year.
The 31-year-old kicked the match-winner, dribbling the ball in from the right pocket.
Cadman tallied three goals in his 50th game.
"Both those guys finished the work from the guys up the field, but it wasn't just the goals," Kingsley said.
"Aaron had some really important contests he needed to have and he did that.
"I thought Jake had some really important decisions up the field that needed to be made.
"And certainly that last one, where he booted the ball deep inside-50 and it turned at right angles and rolled out of bounds for a stoppage, was an incredible decision to make."

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The Advertiser

2 hours ago

• The Advertiser

Deja vu for GWS coach after Giants come from the clouds

Fourth-quarter comebacks on home turf are shaping as a familiar tale for GWS coach Adam Kingsley after a comeback win over Gold Coast. The Suns slammed through the first four goals at Engie Stadium on Sunday, but Kingsley wasn't overly worried. A fortnight ago the Giants overcame a 28-point deficit against Richmond to win by three points. A third-quarter time message by Callan Ward, who had ruptured his ACL, proved pivotal. Staring down a 22-point difference on Sunday, Giants young gun Aaron Cadman kicked his second goal to spark another comeback. Cadman's goal was followed by seven more, with substitute Jake Stringer kicking the match-winner in their 16.10 (106) to 14.15 (99) victory. "I didn't have Wardy this time, that was the only difference," Kingsley said. "To be down at three-quarter time, our guys know that we've been able to do that in the past and so we built great confidence out of being able to do it. "But you've then got to go and do it against what was and is a really good team. "That doesn't mean we always do it, and we're going to make mistakes, of course, but when we put it together, I think we're a pretty good team." Sunday's clash was dubbed the biggest yet of the so-called Expansion Cup, given both of the AFL's youngest franchises were in the top eight. The match was played in front of 10,504 fans - the largest GWS home crowd against Gold Coast. The Giants are seventh (9-6) on the ladder heading into their round-16 bye, but the Suns dropped to ninth (8-5) after the Western Bulldogs thrashed Richmond on Sunday. "That naturally builds a little bit more emotion in the game," Kingsley said. "We understood this was an important game. We're playing against another top-eight team who are a really strong team. "We had a massive crowd, which suggests there's a sense that both of these teams are good teams. Kingsley praised Stringer, who was the perfect foil to young key forward Cadman. Stringer was playing his first game since round nine after overcoming his second hamstring injury of the year. The 31-year-old kicked the match-winner, dribbling the ball in from the right pocket. Cadman tallied three goals in his 50th game. "Both those guys finished the work from the guys up the field, but it wasn't just the goals," Kingsley said. "Aaron had some really important contests he needed to have and he did that. "I thought Jake had some really important decisions up the field that needed to be made. "And certainly that last one, where he booted the ball deep inside-50 and it turned at right angles and rolled out of bounds for a stoppage, was an incredible decision to make." Fourth-quarter comebacks on home turf are shaping as a familiar tale for GWS coach Adam Kingsley after a comeback win over Gold Coast. The Suns slammed through the first four goals at Engie Stadium on Sunday, but Kingsley wasn't overly worried. A fortnight ago the Giants overcame a 28-point deficit against Richmond to win by three points. A third-quarter time message by Callan Ward, who had ruptured his ACL, proved pivotal. Staring down a 22-point difference on Sunday, Giants young gun Aaron Cadman kicked his second goal to spark another comeback. Cadman's goal was followed by seven more, with substitute Jake Stringer kicking the match-winner in their 16.10 (106) to 14.15 (99) victory. "I didn't have Wardy this time, that was the only difference," Kingsley said. "To be down at three-quarter time, our guys know that we've been able to do that in the past and so we built great confidence out of being able to do it. "But you've then got to go and do it against what was and is a really good team. "That doesn't mean we always do it, and we're going to make mistakes, of course, but when we put it together, I think we're a pretty good team." Sunday's clash was dubbed the biggest yet of the so-called Expansion Cup, given both of the AFL's youngest franchises were in the top eight. The match was played in front of 10,504 fans - the largest GWS home crowd against Gold Coast. The Giants are seventh (9-6) on the ladder heading into their round-16 bye, but the Suns dropped to ninth (8-5) after the Western Bulldogs thrashed Richmond on Sunday. "That naturally builds a little bit more emotion in the game," Kingsley said. "We understood this was an important game. We're playing against another top-eight team who are a really strong team. "We had a massive crowd, which suggests there's a sense that both of these teams are good teams. Kingsley praised Stringer, who was the perfect foil to young key forward Cadman. Stringer was playing his first game since round nine after overcoming his second hamstring injury of the year. The 31-year-old kicked the match-winner, dribbling the ball in from the right pocket. Cadman tallied three goals in his 50th game. "Both those guys finished the work from the guys up the field, but it wasn't just the goals," Kingsley said. "Aaron had some really important contests he needed to have and he did that. "I thought Jake had some really important decisions up the field that needed to be made. "And certainly that last one, where he booted the ball deep inside-50 and it turned at right angles and rolled out of bounds for a stoppage, was an incredible decision to make." Fourth-quarter comebacks on home turf are shaping as a familiar tale for GWS coach Adam Kingsley after a comeback win over Gold Coast. The Suns slammed through the first four goals at Engie Stadium on Sunday, but Kingsley wasn't overly worried. A fortnight ago the Giants overcame a 28-point deficit against Richmond to win by three points. A third-quarter time message by Callan Ward, who had ruptured his ACL, proved pivotal. Staring down a 22-point difference on Sunday, Giants young gun Aaron Cadman kicked his second goal to spark another comeback. Cadman's goal was followed by seven more, with substitute Jake Stringer kicking the match-winner in their 16.10 (106) to 14.15 (99) victory. "I didn't have Wardy this time, that was the only difference," Kingsley said. "To be down at three-quarter time, our guys know that we've been able to do that in the past and so we built great confidence out of being able to do it. "But you've then got to go and do it against what was and is a really good team. "That doesn't mean we always do it, and we're going to make mistakes, of course, but when we put it together, I think we're a pretty good team." Sunday's clash was dubbed the biggest yet of the so-called Expansion Cup, given both of the AFL's youngest franchises were in the top eight. The match was played in front of 10,504 fans - the largest GWS home crowd against Gold Coast. The Giants are seventh (9-6) on the ladder heading into their round-16 bye, but the Suns dropped to ninth (8-5) after the Western Bulldogs thrashed Richmond on Sunday. "That naturally builds a little bit more emotion in the game," Kingsley said. "We understood this was an important game. We're playing against another top-eight team who are a really strong team. "We had a massive crowd, which suggests there's a sense that both of these teams are good teams. Kingsley praised Stringer, who was the perfect foil to young key forward Cadman. Stringer was playing his first game since round nine after overcoming his second hamstring injury of the year. The 31-year-old kicked the match-winner, dribbling the ball in from the right pocket. Cadman tallied three goals in his 50th game. "Both those guys finished the work from the guys up the field, but it wasn't just the goals," Kingsley said. "Aaron had some really important contests he needed to have and he did that. "I thought Jake had some really important decisions up the field that needed to be made. "And certainly that last one, where he booted the ball deep inside-50 and it turned at right angles and rolled out of bounds for a stoppage, was an incredible decision to make."

Daily Telegraph

3 hours ago

• Daily Telegraph

‘Unicorn, alien': Sam Darcy blows AFL away in Bulldogs' demolition win

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Victor Wembanyama is the NBA's alien, and Sam Darcy might just be the AFL's unicorn. The Western Bulldogs forward continued his breakout season with five goals in his side's 79-point demolition of Richmond on Sunday afternoon. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The Dogs won 21.9 (135) to 8.8 (56), getting a healthy percentage boost to leapfrog the Gold Coast Suns, who fell out of the top eight for the first time this season after losing a seven-point thriller to GWS. Darcy is only scratching the surface of his talent but the 21-year-old looks close to unstoppable in a marking contest when he is in full flight. His reach, athleticism, and ability to kick on both sides of his body has the 208cm forward posed to tear the competition apart. Sam Darcy is about to take the AFL by storm. Photos: Getty. The Herald Sun's Jay Clark said Darcy had been described as a 'cheat code' by his teammates, and the AFL's best players are already in awe of Darcy and his star potential. 'He is an absolute unicorn, an alien of a player,' reigning Coleman Medal winner Jesse Hogan said of Darcy earlier this week. 'The way he moves and how good his hands are, I don't think there's a player you can compare him to at the moment. 'His ceiling is higher than any player in the competition. 'He's going to be a nightmare for key backs over the next 10-15 years. 'I don't know how you stop him. No player has ever had what he's had, so it's a pretty scary proposition.' 'What I think is underrated with him is how aggressive he is,' Carlton captain Patrick Cripps said on AFL 360. 'Sometimes you can get these tall guys that have all the attributes but what's underrated is the aggression. 'He's got some serious craft, as you get older you love seeing these guys come in. He'll change the game and he's going to be special.' Darcy kicked five goals against Richmond, with defender Noah Balta giving him too much room to roam and mark unopposed inside forward 50. 'I'm always looking at areas to improve,' Darcy told Fox Footy post-game. 'AFL is such a demanding game — four-quarter running power, trying to build that fitness base, work on kicking and the marking craft.' Four-time premiership Jordan Lewis told Darcy could become so dominant that rival teams will need to recruit lanky, athletic defenders who can challenge Darcy. 'I love a kid that comes in and really uses his assets as a strength, and that's clearly his height,' Lewis said. 'So I think the one thing that probably gets underplayed in what has been a relatively short career is he seems like he's got good football IQ. Sam Darcy is one of the tallest players in the AFL, and has athleticism to burn. (Photo by) 'He knows what positions to get into, he's got great dexterity on both sides of his body. He's only going to get better once he matures into his body. 'I think he's asking questions not only of the opposition but certainly how the opposition plan their list build in the future and do they recruit someone that they think is specifically suited to play on Sam Darcy. 'Typically it's been a defender that probably hasn't been tall. We've seen a few sort of around the sort of 198cm, but is there is there someone out there that's a little bit taller that can go with Sam Darcy? 'If it's not now, it certainly will in the not too distant future, force teams to think, 'have we got a specific player on our list that can play on Sam Darcy?' Matthew Kennedy, Tim English, Sam Darcy and Adam Treloar of the Bulldogs sing the team song. (Photo by) 'Gee he's exciting,' Fox Footy commentator Matt Hill said after Darcy's performance against Richmond. 'Even a neutral supporter would come through the turnstile to watch him play.' The Bulldogs were dominant across the ground as Marcus Bontempelli played arguably his best game of the season, finishing with three goals and 36 disposals. Bontempelli was singing Darcy's praises, telling Fox Footy post-game: 'Lucky to play with him and lucky to have someone so big and dominant up the ground. 'He's still a young man but he's impressing us every single week.' 'They've just been ruthless,' Nathan Buckley said on Fox Footy after the Bulldogs' big win. Sam Darcy could take the AFL by storm. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Brisbane's Logan Morris is kicking bags of goals for fun. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images) 'Special': Lions youngster's 28-year AFL first Darcy isn't the only young key forward threatening to take the AFL by storm. Brisbane Lions youngster Logan Morris starred in a big win over Geelong, becoming the youngest player to kick five goals or more in consecutive games since Essendon great Matthew Lloyd in 1997. The No. 31 draft pick has emerged as a gun forward and Brisbane's longterm replacement for Joe Daniher. Richmond champion Jack Riewoldt said Morris' marking ability was 'extremely special overhead'. 'I haven't seen many kids come in and play the way he does and the way he catches the ball. The way he reads the flight is second to none in the AFL,' Riewoldt said. 'He's about to really announce himself in the AFL. He's going to be a superstar.' Originally published as 'Unicorn, alien': Sam Darcy blows AFL away in Bulldogs' demolition win

Courier-Mail

4 hours ago

• Courier-Mail

‘What else is he meant to do?': GWS gun taken out in brutal bump

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. GWS Giants star Lachie Whitfield got cleaned up by a brutal bump against the Gold Coast Suns, but Suns spearhead Ben King is expected to escape punishment for the hit. The incident occurred late in the first quarter of the clash between two AFL expansion sides on Sunday afternoon in Sydney, as GWS claimed a thrilling seven-point win. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. A bouncing ball made its way towards Whitfield, but before he could collect it, King knocked Whitfield over with a heavy hip and shoulder. Whitfield was taken down to the Giants changerooms and was ruled out of the game with concussion, replaced by substitute Jake Stringer in the second quarter. Fox Footy's Alastair Lynch said: 'Ben King comes in and certainly his left shoulder hits Lachie Whitfield in the jaw and he goes down. Watch the bump on Lachie Whitfield in the video above Lachie Whitfield got crunched by Ben King. Photo: Fox Footy. Lachie Whitfield got crunched by Ben King. Photo: Fox Footy. 'He stayed out on the ground but he was assessed by video and they got him off the ground. 'I think Ben King should be right with that one. He was looking to protect the ball with his body and he hits Lachie Whitfield at the same time.' Fox Footy Tribunal expert David Zita said: 'Ben King was contesting the ball reasonably here, I think. He was running through the line. I don't know what else he was supposed to do in that situation. 'I don't think the action was a reportable offence. I don't see him having anything to worry about. What else is he meant to do?' Lachie Whitfield got crunched by Ben King. Photo: Fox Footy. The bump is certainly not dead — Geelong's Tom Stewart was cleared of any wrongdoing for his crunching bump on Gold Coast's Noah Anderson earlier this month. GWS recovered from a poor first quarter to claim a thrilling comeback win over the Suns to consolidate their position in the top eight. Gold Coast kicked four goals in the first four minutes of the game to take a big early lead, posting seven goals to four in a dominant opening quarter. But the Giants fought back and took the lead midway through the final quarter, kicking eight goals to three in the final term. 'It's a classic game, everybody is lifting,' Gerard Healy said on Fox Footy. Stringer and GWS captain Toby Greene kicked two goals each as the Giants surged in front in a highscoring final quarter, holding on to win 16.10 (106) to 14.15 (99). 'This is exactly why we got him here and he'll just get better,' Greene said about Stringer post-game. The Suns have never won at ENGIE Stadium in Sydney and will slip out of the top eight, while the Giants head to the bye after recording wins over Brisbane and Gold Coast. Originally published as 'What else is he meant to do?': GWS gun taken out in brutal bump