By Billie Eder
It has been a fairytale week for AFL fans west of the Anzac Bridge.
Giants enforcer Harry Himmelberg recommitted to the Orange army for a mammoth six years, the team are well and truly on their way to the finals, and club membership is at an all-time high.
The only thing that could make it better would be a record eighth-straight win for the club against an injury-riddled Swans side in the 26th Sydney derby on Saturday night.
GWS coach Adam Kingsley said the team are riding the high of the past seven weeks, and are in good form heading into Saturday’s showdown.
“The confidence is high,” Kingsley said. “We feel like our game is in good order, we’re quite healthy, we’ve got all but a handful to pick from. The feeling and the mood among the group is very good.”
But Kingsley was quick to caution his team against complacency, and issued a warning ahead of the always tightly contested ‘Battle of the Bridge’.
Toby Greene celebrates his last-minute match-winning goal against the Swans at the SCG in round seven.Credit: Getty
“If we start to think that we’re better than what we are, or we become complacent, then we won’t make finals. It’s as simple as that, and I think our guys are well aware of that,” Kingsley said.
“Form is almost irrelevant. Any team can win, they’re coin flips these [rivalry] games, and we’re well aware of that. Contest, pressure, and all that, both teams are really strong in that phase of the game, and I think that will be the deciding factor in this game.”
The last time the two teams met for the 25th Sydney derby was in round seven, when Giants captain Toby Greene downed the Swans with a last-minute goal to claim a one point victory.
But Saturday will be an uphill battle for the Swans after losing co-captain Dane Rampe, Justin McInerney and star forward Buddy Franklin to calf complaints — an injury which forced the latter to call time on his dazzling 19-year career.
The Swans will be without Buddy Franklin, co-captain Dane Rampe and Justin McInerney after they all suffered calf injuries in last week’s game.Credit: Getty Images
With just four weeks left in the regular season, and only two wins separating fifth and 14th, it’s a must-win game for the Swans who sit below the red line in 10th.
Swans co-captain Luke Parker said the loss of some key players was an opportunity for younger talent to put their hand up, and that the narrow loss earlier in the year wasn’t the motivator behind chasing a win this week.
“I think just knowing what it takes to make this year successful for the remaining four games is what motivates us,” Parker said.
“We look back on that [last derby] game and that was one of those couple that we thought we really had that game done, and credit to the Giants, they came back in that last quarter and were incredible.
“But for us, we know Toby [Greene] is on fire at the moment, the whole squad’s on fire, and they’re playing some really good football, and it’s going to take our best to get over the top of them.”
According to Kingsley, the Swans are just as much of a threat — despite losing their greatest player — because it makes them unpredictable.
“In one way, it probably makes them a little less predictable now [losing Franklin], but having said that, I’d rather the lack of predictability than him running around the front half,” Kingsley said.
“He’s obviously had one of the great all-time careers. I think everyone in football has marvelled at what he’s been able to do for his 19-year career, and he’ll be missed, but certainly very well remembered.”
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