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Sport Nation
“Two very ordinary games”: Healy and Johnson’s concerns for the Giants
Sam Watson • March 5th, 2025 8:52 am
Brad Johnson believes the GWS Giants are a “big watch” after two poor pre-season performances ahead of their Opening Round clash with Collingwood.
Adam Kingsley’s side was soundly beaten by Carlton at Manuka Oval on Friday, going down by 58 points, just a week after losing to the Swans by 57 points in their unofficial hit out.
Their poor form has Johnson wondering if they’ll be able to turn it around before taking on the Magpies at ENGIE Stadium on Sunday.
“Can you switch from two poor pre-season games to then getting it right?” the Western Bulldogs legend asked on SEN’s Sportsday.
“They were destroyed in stoppages in that first quarter. And then it ended up being Carlton dominating inside 50s off the back of it.
“And I think the final part of that was attitude and effort.”
And it’s not just the Opening Round clash Johnson has his worries about, with the Giants set to face two more difficult opponents after their first fixture.
Johnson added: “Can those things be fixed quickly enough, to have an impact in the first three weeks where they play the Pies, Melbourne and Hawthorn?”
1988 Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy was also “concerned” with the efforts he witnessed from the team in orange.
“The Giants, for two weeks, put together two very ordinary games and two very ordinary exhibitions of intensity,” Healy said.
“So, it looms as a massive trap for the tipsters this week because Collingwood couldn't have looked any better, but they were playing against the Tigers, who were really substandard.”
The clash between the Giants and the Magpies will get underway at 3.20pm (AEDT) on Sunday.
