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Sport Nation
Are the ‘sleeping’ Giants rising at the right time?
Louis Van Dam • June 22nd, 2025 1:25 pm
After their scintillating against-the-odds win over Brisbane at the Gabba last weekend, GWS are now seventh on the ladder after winning three of their last four games.
The Giants were led by their star midfield group and dash off half-back, along with key forwards Jesse Hogan (six), Aaron Cadman (five) and Callum Brown (three) combining for 14 of the 17 goals kicked.
Nathan Buckley was taken by how the Giants performed, referencing their ability to at times mix it with the absolute best.
“They’re the girl with the curl aren’t they,” Buckley told SEN’s Whateley.
“They do dominate periods of games against very good opposition.
“We know that they’ve got a really strong back six, they can handle the time on the ropes and withstand a lot of field position against.”
Although it has been an underwhelming season for the Giants so far, they have been able to take some big scalps in the top eight.
Those big wins include Collingwood, Geelong and now Brisbane, indicating their best footy can compete with anyone.
He believes they might just be the league's sleeping giants in 2025.
“When you look at it, well you think ‘why not?’,” Buckley added.
“They’re a ‘sleeping giant’ at the moment.”
The main talking point has been young spearhead Cadman after having his highest rated game so far in his short career against the Lions.
Cadman finally showcased his ability and expectations as a former no.1 pick, by slotting a career-best five majors from 19 disposals and 13 marks.
“Was that the coming of Cadman?,” Buckley continued.
“Like his contested marking and his finishing, he hit the scoreboard early and he seemed to grow from that.
“It didn’t hurt Jesse (Hogan) to have that other target in front of the ball.”
Giants coach Adam Kingsley is loving what he is seeing from Cadman, praising the youngster's elite work rate.
“I think he’s been building really nicely and really competing strongly,” said Kingsley of Cadman on SEN Breakfast.
“I’ve been really pleased with not only his season but his build across the last year or two.
“He’s so athletic, I think he’s the best follow-up big man in the game.
“After an aerial contest his ability to then follow up at ground level, get after the ball, or at least be in a position to win it or chase tackle and pressure… it’s those things that I think can potentially set him apart from a lot of other key forwards in the game.”
Now at the midpoint of the year, Kingsley also provided his thoughts on where he sees his group and if they are nearing their best heading into the tail-end of the season.
“I don’t think we’re too far,” he added.
“I think we’re in pretty good shape, we’re getting some personnel back which is helping us, but I feel like we’re continuing to build our game.
“We tend to build our season and learn our lessons, we’re not playing our best footy during this patch of the season, but we continually improve, and we work hard, and I certainly know that.”
GWS currently lead the league in disposal efficiency at 74.1%, first in rebound 50s at 45.7, while indicating they’re trying to adopt a free-flowing game style, being fifth in uncontested possessions and 14th in contested possessions.
But some negative pointers for the Giants so far include being 16th for total clearances, 15th in centre clearances, bottom four in giving up inside 50’s to opposition, while also proving in their losses this year that their worst is nowhere near top eight standard.
“I like the way we’re progressing, I think we can challenge teams with our attack, when we play our brand of footy, we’re really hard to stop,” added Kingsley.
“I think our stoppage work has improved over the last couple of weeks, and that was probably an area of the game that we weren’t strong at.
“We’ve just got to find that balance there of reducing entries and defending them at the same time.”
“I don’t think we’re too far away I feel really confident in our group, we’ll get a few of our best players back.”
The Giants have just been dealt a horrible hand with injuries this year, with now arguably the league’s best key defender, Sam Taylor, adding to their pile as he is expected to miss up to five weeks with a broken toe.
They are still to welcome back some reinforcements in the coming weeks, with key players in Jake Stringer, Toby Greene and Stephen Coniglio all being tests for glute and hamstring injuries, while mainstay ruckman Kieren Briggs is still one or two weeks away from an ankle injury.
GWS have a neutral run home, with their bye still upcoming, and playing four of the current top eight teams in their last nine games.
Another big test is ahead for Kingsley and his men this week, as they host the sixth spot Gold Coast Suns on Sunday at 1:10pm.
