- Nov 23, 2015
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GREATER Western Sydney coach Adam Kingsley remains confident the Giants can still contend for the premiership even after Sydney dismantled them by 27 points at Engie Stadium. Despite the Giants' fifth loss in their past seven matches and an up-close view of the benchmark, Kingsley has backed his side to match it with the ladder leaders and stay in the premiership race. "Absolutely. Very confident," Kingsley said on whether the Giants are still in contention. "We got beaten by clearly the best team in the competition and they're going to be the ones that everyone has to beat. But again, I'm really confident in the way that we played. I thought we fought hard, we've got some players to come back, who knows what's possible."
Someone did the maths in another thread, and reckoned 5 wins from here would get us to finals. (Actually, they said: win all home games and one away; but I think we'll drop at least one at home, so probably needs at least 2 away wins.) Adelaide has to be one of the games we target for an away win. The Crows started the season - similar to us - as a media favourite to make finals, but their season has just not taken off, and they sit in fourth last position with 4 wins and a draw. Although this is a home game for them, the recent run of form between our clubs sits in our favour. Coming off the bye, their record is absolutely 50-50 (5 wins 5 losses in last 10 years), so hopefully us having 3 games under our belt stands us in good stead.
The second quarter capitulation against Swans was obviously horrendous - and mirrors our deepest flaw this year, which is an inability to stop a run of goals against us. But for the other three quarters, we scrapped hard, and if we can bottle that aspect of our play, we'll certainly be in with a good shot against Adelaide. Incidentally, their scoreline against the Swans in the week prior to the bye was 67-109, so a touch worse than our loss (despite getting off to a fantastic start against them). We will have to watch our start, as we are often slow out of the blocks.
We are still down on personnel, with Sam Taylor the biggest missing piece. But the Giants expect vice-captain Stephen Coniglio, as well as Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming and Darcy Jones to be available for selection next week. "I would expect 'Cogs' to be fit," Kingsley said. "He got through training, no problems, just wasn't 100 per cent confident without the same level of contact (in training). I'm unsure if we'll see all 4 slot into the team - that's a lot of players coming off injury at once. Perhaps Cogs (because we need the midfield grunt) & Pez, who haven't been out that long. Maybe Darcy Jones to sub, to inject his speed later in the game. And Cumming to have another VFL game to build up fitness.
I'd really love us to stamp some authority on this game and have a strong away win ... but I'd just like to see us win, to be honest.
OK, those are my thoughts. What are yours?
Someone did the maths in another thread, and reckoned 5 wins from here would get us to finals. (Actually, they said: win all home games and one away; but I think we'll drop at least one at home, so probably needs at least 2 away wins.) Adelaide has to be one of the games we target for an away win. The Crows started the season - similar to us - as a media favourite to make finals, but their season has just not taken off, and they sit in fourth last position with 4 wins and a draw. Although this is a home game for them, the recent run of form between our clubs sits in our favour. Coming off the bye, their record is absolutely 50-50 (5 wins 5 losses in last 10 years), so hopefully us having 3 games under our belt stands us in good stead.
The second quarter capitulation against Swans was obviously horrendous - and mirrors our deepest flaw this year, which is an inability to stop a run of goals against us. But for the other three quarters, we scrapped hard, and if we can bottle that aspect of our play, we'll certainly be in with a good shot against Adelaide. Incidentally, their scoreline against the Swans in the week prior to the bye was 67-109, so a touch worse than our loss (despite getting off to a fantastic start against them). We will have to watch our start, as we are often slow out of the blocks.
We are still down on personnel, with Sam Taylor the biggest missing piece. But the Giants expect vice-captain Stephen Coniglio, as well as Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming and Darcy Jones to be available for selection next week. "I would expect 'Cogs' to be fit," Kingsley said. "He got through training, no problems, just wasn't 100 per cent confident without the same level of contact (in training). I'm unsure if we'll see all 4 slot into the team - that's a lot of players coming off injury at once. Perhaps Cogs (because we need the midfield grunt) & Pez, who haven't been out that long. Maybe Darcy Jones to sub, to inject his speed later in the game. And Cumming to have another VFL game to build up fitness.
I'd really love us to stamp some authority on this game and have a strong away win ... but I'd just like to see us win, to be honest.
OK, those are my thoughts. What are yours?
