Jake Stringer kicks seven goals as Giants end Dockers’ 14-game winning streak
Sebastian Tan
GWS ended Fremantle’s record winning run on Saturday when Jake Stringer kicked a career-high seven goals to lead the Giants to a 21-point upset victory in Canberra.
After coming into Saturday’s game on a high-scoring 14-game winning streak, the Dockers (14-2) had their hopes of eclipsing Essendon’s historic 20-game streak of 2000 dashed.
Freo are not counting the cost of the 16.13 (109) to 13.10 (88) defeat as midfielder Hayden Young suffered a groin injury in the second half at Manuka Oval.
It follows a spate of injuries for the 25-year-old over the last 18 months and his loss will deal another blow to the ranking leaders’ junior premiership hopes ahead of next Thursday’s crucial clash against the second-placed Sydney Swans.
“We think it’s just a bit of a groin strain, so we’re hoping he’s right,” Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said.
“That’s what happens when you miss a lot of games… It could be three or four (weeks) later and something else comes up, hopefully it’s not bad.”
Longmuir lamented his team’s “off” work rate, with the Giants dominating 28 points to 42 and playing aggressively in the front half.
“It wasn’t us, it wasn’t us,” Koç said.
“I thought we lacked strength in the contest, lacking ball handling, tackling and all the things we’ve been pretty good at all year.”
GWS (7-9), who suffered three consecutive defeats in the clash They needed a response to keep themselves in the race for the finals and off-contract Toby Greene provided it, producing a masterclass of 27 disposals and three majors.
Key forward Stringer was also hot in front of goal, while defender Connor Idun stood out with 26 disposals and 12 points.
Adam Kingsley received high praise from the Giants’ midfield, who made up for the loss of star Lachie Whitfield, who suffered concussion in the second term.
The victory also came after the coach declared earlier in the week that “no one is going to give us a chance of beating them (Fremantle)”, given that GWS’s injury list has ballooned to 15 players.
“This group is good enough. We proved that by knocking out the best team,” Kingsley said.
“I thought we were playing a game that we had hoped and desired to play for a long time.”
It wasn’t a smooth victory for GWS, although both teams were tit-for-tat in the first quarter, but the Giants’ defense kept the Dockers’ star-studded attack at bay from the second period onwards.
The big match towards the end of the third period paved the way for the home team’s victory, and they maintained their composure in the last period and secured four points.
For Fremantle, defender Karl Worner continued his sparkling form with 29 disposals, while midfielder Caleb Serong had 31 points.
AAP
