GWS mid-year report card: Massive month to define spluttering season

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Record: 7 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw
Grading: C

Summer expectations: There was a widespread belief that the Giants, with consecutive preliminary finals under their belts, would be among the premiership contenders in 2018. Despite trading away some quality running players over the off-season, GWS looked to have enough quality on every line to finish the season in the top four.

The story so far: The Giants got off to a solid start, winning three of their first four matches, before a few wobbles: drawing against St Kilda, getting flogged at Geelong and dropping a home game against Essendon. The greatest concern is they have again struggled with injury – not just the quantity of games missed but the quality of players missing. After losing gun running defender Zac Williams to pre-season Achilles surgery, they have managed only a combined 17 games from game-breakers Tom Scully (1) Toby Greene (3), Brett Deledio (6) and Josh Kelly (7). The injuries have exposed a lack of depth on the GWS list, and the certain loss of key forward Jeremy Cameron to suspension and ruck/forward Rory Lobb to a back injury will further test Leon Cameron’s ability to shuffle his chess pieces around.

The surprise: Apprentice electrician Zac Langdon was plucked from the WAFL with pick 56 last November, a mature-age selection at age 22. The livewire small forward missed a couple of early games with a broken hand, but has contributed 12 goals from 10 appearances and some excellent forward pressure to average 4.6 tackles per game.

What's ahead: Saturday’s home game against Hawthorn is the first test in a season-defining month for the Giants, followed by West Coast (away), Richmond (home) and Port Adelaide (away). If they can break even they have a chance of regaining some good players and building towards September with some momentum.