Giants Dominate Roos in Canberra Showdown
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon at Manuka Oval, and the Greater Western Sydney Giants came out determined to make a statement after last week’s 88-point hammering from the Western Bulldogs. And make a statement they did — taking control early and never letting go, cruising to a 54-point win over North Melbourne, 20.13 (133) to 12.7 (79).
From the first bounce, the Giants’ intent was clear. They moved the ball with precision, applied relentless pressure, and quickly built a lead that left the Kangaroos chasing shadows. By halftime, GWS were up by 38 points, and the match already felt like it was slipping beyond North’s reach.
Callum Brown was the star in front of goal, matching his career-best tally with five majors. Young gun Aaron Cadman chipped in with four, although he might be replaying one missed chance in his head — caught holding the ball in the goal square after playing on when he could’ve simply slotted it through. Jake Stringer, lively early, snagged three goals before being tactically subbed out in the third quarter.
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In the middle, Finn Callaghan and Tom Green were unstoppable. Callaghan racked up 31 disposals, a goal, and ten score involvements, while Green’s 25 touches and physical presence ensured the Kangaroos’ midfield could never truly settle into the contest. By midway through the third quarter, the Giants were up by 58 points, and though North clawed back a little late, the damage was already done.
For North Melbourne, it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Debutants Cooper Trembath and Geordie Payne both made memorable first impressions. Trembath, a mid-season rookie draft pick, kicked three goals — including an emotional first that brought his grandmother to tears in the stands. Payne also found the scoreboard for his maiden AFL goal, quickly mobbed by teammates in celebration. Veteran Luke Parker continued his strong debut season for the Roos with 28 possessions and nine clearances, providing some leadership in a tough outing.
The result keeps GWS sitting firmly in the top eight with a 14–7 record. But the fight for a finals berth isn’t over yet — their percentage means they may still need to win both remaining games, against Gold Coast and St Kilda, to secure September action.
For North, the season has been one of hard lessons. Set to finish in the bottom three, they’ll head to Hobart next week to face Richmond, hoping to avoid the wooden spoon and take some momentum into the off-season.
In the end, this was the response the Giants needed — ruthless, clinical, and brimming with the kind of energy that could carry them into finals with confidence. And for the Roos, while the scoreboard stung, the glimpses of their emerging talent gave fans something to cheer for in the years ahead.
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