Giants superstar Toby Greene says it’s a “special” achievement to play 200 games with his expansion club after he produced another match-winning masterclass to inspire his side to a memorable victory.
Greene booted 4.2 from 19 disposals and nine marks in his 200th AFL match as the Giants recorded a famous eight-point win — their third straight victory at GMHBA Stadium, which is a venue most travelling teams struggle at.
“It’s different starting at and coming from a start-up club, but it’s special to be able to build the club into what it is today and hopefully hold it in good stead going forward,” Greene told Fox Footy post-game.
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The Giants skipper said he was looking forward to a “good night” with teammates, as well as their friends and family, at a post-game function near their Geelong hotel.
Giants star Brent Daniels cheekily suggested Greene mentioned the after-match plans as part of a pep talk at the major break when the team was up by 17 points.
“Toby’s half-time speech was about that too: ‘Get the victory and we’ll have a couple of beers together after it,’” Daniels told Fox Footy.
Interviewer Cam Mooney replied: “That’s why he (Greene) is the best.”
The Giants had led by as much as 24 points with almost 10 minutes gone in the final term until Ollie Henry and Tyson Stengle threatened to orchestrate a miracle, twice bringing the Cats within a kick.
But Jake Riccardi and Daniels responded, each booting their third goals of a pulsating match to seal victory for the Giants.
The league’s youngest team, driven to celebrate the 200-game milestone of their captain and spiritual leader Greene, played as well as any time since their last finals appearance in 2021.
“We’ve probably been banging down the door for a lot of the year, so it’s great to get a victory in Toby’s 200th,” Daniels said.
“It’s a special night for him, he’s done so much for the football club.
“We got about four goals up and then we just froze a bit. They (the Cats) came – they’re a good team they always do – so it was good to keep calm in those last couple of minutes, lock the game down.”
Giants coach Adam Kingsley said it was a sign of the club’s growing maturity that it could honour both Greene’s 200th game, as well as grieving ruckman Kieren Briggs, with a never-say-die performance when Geelong threatened late.
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“If that can be the bar, that’s going to turn us into a really good team,” Kingsley said.
“Our challenge is to continually deliver on that, but if that’s the bar, I’ll be very pleased.
“You want to celebrate the milestones of your champions and if you can do that with a win … even better.
“Toby’s been a champion of the game, let alone this footy club, so it’s only fair we dished up a victory for him.
“For our guys to fight their way back, kick another goal and keep the lead, I was so proud of the guys and their fight.”
The Giants laid 76 tackles to Geelong’s 62 for the match. Remarkably, 22 of those tackles were laid in their own forward 50, compared to Geelong’s four.
“To be honest that’s what we want to do every week,” Daniels said. “We know pressure is a huge part of the game and if we do that, we generally play well. It’s usually a starting point for us and the rest flows from that.
“‘Kingers’ (Kingsley) is big on pressure. Since he’s got to the club that’s probably the main thing he’s spoken about.”
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Daniels, who was restricted to 13 games in 2021 and didn’t feature at all last year due to injury, produced arguably his career-best game, booting three goals from 19 disposals, 10 contested possessions, eight score involvements and seven tackles.
“It was a good game for myself. I had a couple of years out, so I’m just happy to be back playing,” he said.
“The club’s been great for me, so I’m just happy to repay them.”
— with NCA NewsWire