Fyfe injured as Giants turn in shocker against undermanned Fremantle

One of the great unknowns heading into this season was how relevant the extraordinary circumstances of last year would be in gauging a team’s fortunes in 2021. On the evidence so far, Greater Western Sydney’s forgettable 2020 was no aberration.

In a performance that will increase the pressure on coach Leon Cameron, the Giants turned in a shocker against an undermanned Fremantle, who ran their opponents off their legs to win by 31 points — 11.21 (87) to 7.14 (56).

The Giants absorb a sobering defeat at Optus Stadium in Perth.Credit:Getty

The margin flattered the Giants, who were comprehensively outplayed by a Dockers side which worked harder for longer in the Perth heat.

The home side’s victory was soured by a concussion to dual Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe, whose game was ended after a collision with Sam Reid in the third quarter. Fyfe is now in doubt to play next week while Reid’s availability hinges on whether his action is deemed a bump or a brace for contact by the match review officer.

It may seem difficult to fathom how a side laden with so many topliners could have their colours lowered to this extent but the Giants’ depth is shallow and their best players are not exerting enough influence.

With just two wins from their past nine matches, the Giants are a shadow of the side that won through to the 2019 grand final off the back of a stirring September campaign built on a hard-nosed, uncompromising style.

Nat Fyfe of the Dockers receives attention after a heavy knock from Sam Reid.Credit:Getty

Those traits have been rarely sighted since the onset of the pandemic, and were non-existent against the emerging Freo.

The Giants started promisingly enough, executing the perfect play from the opening bounce to kick a goal inside the first 30 seconds. They had to wait until the second minute of the third quarter for their next goal, and the three-quarter time siren for their third.

In that time, Fremantle, a side that has finished 16th, 14th, 14th, 13th and 12th the past five years, had the game shot to bits, piling on nine goals and missing several other getable shots.

There could be no questioning the Giants’ effort in the wet last week but on a hot afternoon out west they looked slow and, for long periods, were uncompetitive, the damage on the scoreboard reduced by some junk time goals.

The Orange Tsunami is now but a trickle. Their midfield, star-studded on paper, was blitzed. Captain Stephen Coniglio (22 possessions) and Josh Kelly (20 possessions) had little impact while Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper – two big improvers in their grand final year – were also beaten.

They were given lessons in hardness by one of the oldest players in the league, David Mundy, and how to burst away from the contest by rising stars Andrew Brayshaw, Adam Cerra and Caleb Serong.

The numbers on the stats sheet were damning. One of the Giants’ trademarks is their inside work but they were smashed at the contest, losing the contested possession count by 32.

Their lack of workrate was evident as early as the first term when just seven Giants laid a tackle despite the ball being largely in their opponents’ hands.

Sean Darcy of the Dockers contests for the ball against Nick Haynes and Callan Ward.Credit:Getty

The Giants forwards would have fancied their chances against a decimated Dockers defence but the ball was predominantly at the other end of the ground, and when it did pierce their attacking 50 seldom did it arrive with any purpose. They took just five marks inside 50 to the Dockers’ 22.

In an indictment on their teammates up the field, Giants forwards Harry Himmelberg, Toby Greene and Bobby Hill were all among the team’s best despite limited opportunities.

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