Match

GWS Giants vs Brisbane Lions

Commentary / 25 Apr 2024

Pre Game

00:00
Brisbane has won its last five matches against the Giants by an average of 32 points per game, with its last defeat coming in the 2019 Semi Final by three points.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:06
Brisbane has outscored its opposition by an average of 6.2 points in the opening ten minutes of games this season (ranked second). Only GWS has a better record during this period, leading by an average of 7.5 points after the first ten minutes.
00:58
Darcy Jones makes his debut tonight for the Giants. The speedy Jones has averaged 17 disposals, four tackles, six score involvements, four clearances, and seven ground balls in his three VFL games this season.
01:28
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Callum M. Brown)
01:41
A strong mark and long goal from Callum Brown have converted a forward half intercept by the Giants. GWS has averaged 33.5 points per game from this source (ranked fourth).
02:44
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Rushed)
04:02
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
04:31
The first score of the night for the Lions came from a kick-in chain. Brisbane has scored only one behind from this source in total across the last three weeks.
06:04
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Tom Green)
06:16
A second long-range goal from beyond 50 metres for the Giants. GWS had kicked 7.8 with another four shots failing to score from its attempts outside 50 this season before tonight.
09:00
GWS has an early 6-3 lead in midfield intercepts, has generated an inside 50 entry from each of these intercepts, and scored 2.1.13 from these chains.
09:41
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Charlie Cameron)
10:11
The goal from Charlie Cameron came from a midfield intercept by the Lions and followed a ground ball win by Joe Daniher. Brisbane has an early 9-5 lead in ground balls and is ranked fourth in this measure.
11:43
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Jesse Hogan)
12:47
A classy goal on debut from Darcy Jones who has made an impressive start for the Giants. The goal again came from a midfield intercept and GWS has already scored 19 points from such chains (averages 35 points per game from this source).
14:29
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Eric Hipwood)
15:39
Harry Himmelberg has started the game with five disposals at 100 percent efficiency and four of these disposals have been in scoring chains including a pair of assists. Himmelberg averages 3.2 score involvements per game this season.
17:57
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Josh Kelly)
20:08
A pair of early goals for Charlie Cameron who kicked a career-high seven goals in his last game at this venue. Cameron also kicked three goals in his only other game at this venue and these are the only times he has kicked more than two goals in a game against the Giants.
24:33
Lions Interchange - Cam Rayner off due to an injury.
24:42
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Harvey Thomas)
24:52
GWS has a 10-4 lead in first possession wins at stoppages and has converted this into a 7-5 clearance edge. The last goal from Harvey Thomas came from a clearance and was the first goal of the night to not come from a midfield intercept.
26:53
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Darcy Fort)
28:08
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Jaspa Fletcher)
29:40
GWS has been the No.1 handball team this season, but in the opening quarter has had twice as many kicks as handballs and reduced the opportunities for Brisbane to apply pressure.
30:22
The Giants had the better of the opening term winning clearances 9-6 and uncontested possessions 52-40. GWS generated all of its scores from chains starting in the midfield and both teams had difficulty converting a defensive 50 chain into an inside 50 entry.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:05
Lachie Whitfield was the No.1 ranked player on the ground in the opening quarter. Whitfield led all players for disposals (11), used the ball well (91 percent efficiency), and won three intercept possessions.
00:33
A fast start to the second quarter for the Lions with a goal from a forward half intercept. Brisbane leads 7-3 in such intercepts and now leads 13-6 in points scored from this source.
01:41
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Kai Lohmann)
01:51
Two shots at goal for Brisbane in the second quarter before GWS had two disposals. The Lions have already hit the post three times tonight after also hitting the post three times last week.
04:34
The Lions have won the contested possession count by 12 per game in the midfield (ranked No.1), but in the opening quarter, the Giants recorded four more contested possessions in this zone and generated all of their scores from midfield chains.
06:18
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Cam Rayner)
06:34
Cam Rayner has been used primarily as a forward tonight (86 percent) and has had four disposals in the forward 50, two of which have resulted in goals.
08:00
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Lincoln McCarthy)
08:34
The last six scores have all gone to the Lions who have had the first eight inside 50 entries of the quarter.
10:05
Brisbane leads 17-7 in ground balls this quarter and has won post-clearance contested possessions 12-5 with these contest wins crucial in the Lions dominating the inside 50 count.
10:48
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Rushed)
12:55
GWS has generated an inside 50 entry from 26 percent of its defensive 50 chains this season (ranked third). Tonight the Giants have just one inside 50 entry from 20 such chains.
14:53
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Callum M. Brown)
15:00
The Giants have now scored 4.2 from shots beyond 40 metres from the goal while all of the scores for the Lions have come from shots within 40 metres of goal.
16:08
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Xavier O'Halloran)
16:25
Two quick goals for the Giants who have now converted a 17-13 clearance edge into 20-10 points scored from stoppages. Kieren Briggs has won a game-high seven clearances including three from centre bounces.
18:36
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Kai Lohmann)
19:39
Brisbane has dominated the inside 50 count this quarter (13-3) due to a 5-2 lead in centre bounce clearances and a 6-0 advantage in forward half intercepts.
23:25
Harris Andrews has again been important in disrupting the opposition ball movement. Andrews, who leads all players for both intercept possessions (6) and spoils (4), is averaging 8.3 intercept possessions per game (ranked equal-eighth in the AFL).
26:59
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Jake Riccardi)
27:05
The long-range goals from the Giants continue with this time Jake Riccardi converting. GWS has scored 4.1 from its five shots outside 50 metres from the goal. Brisbane has not scored from its two shots outside 40 metres from the goal.
28:51
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Lincoln McCarthy)
30:27
Brisbane leads 10-4 in centre bounce clearances and all four clearances won by Lachie Neale have been from centre bounces. The Lions have not converted this on to the scoreboard and trail 3-7 in points scored from this source.
32:53
Lions Interchange - Callum Ah Chee off due to an injury.
33:16
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Rushed)
34:47
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Josh Kelly)
34:55
The Giants have been the more efficient and accurate team in the first half. GWS has scored 6.2 from set shots compared to 1.3 for Brisbane. The Lions have had more inside 50 entries (31-23) and shots at goal, but have scored 1.4 from shots beyond 30 metres with another three attempts failing to score.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:30
GWS Giants have won 25.5 forward half intercept possessions per game this season (ranked No.1). Tonight, Brisbane leads 13-7 in this measure but both teams have kicked two goals from this source.
01:50
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Joe Daniher)
01:58
The inaccuracy in front of goal has continued for the Lions with another set shot miss to start the third term. Only once this season has Brisbane finished the game with more goals than behinds (12.10 v Melbourne in Round 5).
04:30
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Aaron Cadman)
04:38
The goal from Aaron Cadman was the first score of the night for GWS to come from a defensive 50 chain and only the second time tonight that the Giants have been able to generate an inside 50 entry from a defensive 50 chain.
05:43
GWS has now kicked five of the last six goals and has a game-high 13-point lead. The goal from Cadman was the first score of the night for the Giants to come from within 30 metres of the goal.
07:46
Josh Dunkley is the clear No.1 player for pressure tonight with game-highs for both tackles (7) and pressure acts (19). Dunkley has also won four clearances and been involved in five scoring chains in another prolific performance.
10:07
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Jesse Hogan)
12:09
The Giants have launched an inside 50 entry from 51 percent of their defensive midfield chains this season (ranked No.1). GWS has maintained this tonight with 14 entries from 28 such chains (five of which have resulted in a score).
13:06
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Jesse Hogan)
13:19
Another goal from a defensive midfield chain for the Giants who now lead 27-16 in points scored from the defensive half. GWS is the No.1 ranked team in points scored from the defensive half this season.
15:15
GWS has applied strong forward half pressure and leads 16-4 in forward 50 tackles. Harvey Thomas has applied four of these tackles among his team-high five tackles.
16:29
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Harry Perryman)
16:44
Five goals in a row to the Giants with a classy finish from Harry Perryman converting a forward half intercept by GWS. After Brisbane had the first four inside 50 entries of the quarter, GWS has had 10 of the next 11.
18:18
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Hugh McCluggage)
19:18
Eight of the last nine goals to the Giants with the goal from Jake Riccardi coming from a kick-in chain with GWS starting to move the ball freely in this quarter. The Giants have had double the uncontested possessions this term and recorded a kicking efficiency of 83 percent.
22:35
The Lions are ranked last in the first ten minutes after half time this season and have only won the third quarter once this season. Brisbane has continued this trend tonight with GWS currently winning this quarter by 23 points.
23:56
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Tom Green)
24:16
Brisbane has kicked a goal from only 18 percent of its inside 50 entries this season (ranked last). The Lions have been ranked in the top-4 for this measure in each of the last three seasons. Brisbane has tonight kicked six goals from 37 entries (16 percent).
26:47
GWS has recorded a kicking efficiency of 72 percent in its forward half tonight, while Brisbane has a kicking efficiency of only 48 percent in its forward half.
27:52
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Jake Riccardi)
27:54
A powerful third quarter from the Giants who had the better of contested possessions (33-24), inside 50 entries (15-10), ground balls (24-13), forward 50 disposals (18-3), and dominated ball control with 79-37 uncontested possessions.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:17
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Callum M. Brown)
01:25
GWS has now kicked 10.3 from set shots at goal compared to a return of 1.4 for Brisbane. The goal from Callum Brown was the first of the night for either team to come from a free kick.
02:30
SCORE BEHIND - Lions (Lincoln McCarthy)
03:46
After winning the pre-clearance contested possession count in each of their first four games, GWS lost the last two counts by 21 and 20 in that order. Tonight the Giants have edged the Lions 43-37 in pre-clearance contested possessions and 64-60 in post-clearance contested possessions.
03:54
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Rushed)
05:53
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Rushed)
05:59
Since Round 3, the Giants have conceded 20.3 points per game from centre bounce clearances, which is ranked last defensively. GWS has lost the centre bounce clearances 7-13 tonight but leads 7-4 in points scored from this source.
06:27
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Harry Perryman)
06:56
Nine consecutive goals to the Giants who now lead 59-27 in points scored from turnovers including 26-13 from forward half intercepts.
09:16
The Giants are averaging 104.8 points in their last five matches (ranked equal-first with Sydney) and are on track to again post a score of above 100 points.
10:04
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Jaspa Fletcher)
10:21
Some smart work from Jaspa Fletcher has ended the run of goals for the Giants. Brisbane has now scored 20 points tonight from forward half stoppages which is one of its few score sources tonight that has been above average.
13:38
Finn Callaghan has recorded an equal career-high 27 disposals tonight and also posted a game-high 557 metres gained in a performance that shows his potential to be another star for the Giants.
14:13
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Harvey Thomas)
16:16
Josh Kelly has played a combination of inside midfield and wing tonight and has once again been an important player both in defence (five intercepts and four tackles) and in attack with six score involvements and over 500 metres gained. Kelly kicked an equal career-high three goals last week against the Blues.
16:46
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Xavier O'Halloran)
19:24
The last time that the Lions lost a game by more than 50 points was in Round 1, 2023. Brisbane responded to that loss by winning eight of their next nine games.
20:36
The Lions were outscored by 21 points from intercept possessions last week against the Cats, which is their worst differential this season. Brisbane has been outscored 71-27 from this source tonight.
21:59
Brisbane has recorded a pressure factor of 188 this season (ranked No.1). Tonight the Lions have recorded a pressure rating of only 163 and have struggled to disrupt the ball movement of the Giants.
23:26
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Finn Callaghan)
23:49
GWS has recorded 17 running bounces tonight which equals the most in a game this season. Brisbane has had just one such bounce.
26:44
Tom Green leads all players for contested possessions (16), score involvements (9), and disposals (35) and is the second-ranked Giant for both pressure and clearances.
27:47
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Darcy Jones)
29:00
SCORE GOAL - Lions (Darcy Fort)
29:03
A commanding performance from the Giants who won contested possessions by 16 and uncontested possessions by 73. GWS used the ball more effectively (forward half kicking efficiency 70 percent to 49 percent) and kicked eight goals to none from more than 40 metres from goal.