Toby Greene of the Giants
Adam Kingsley, head coach of Greater Western Sydney, is optimistic about Toby Greene’s impending goal-scoring surge as the Giants prepare to address their struggles at Optus Stadium in Sunday’s clash against West Coast.
Despite the Giants’ impressive 2-0 start to the season, Greene has only managed to score one goal, compared to his outstanding 66-goal campaign in 2023.
With Jesse Hogan netting 10 goals over two weeks and Callum Brown adding seven, Greene’s current tally is not a significant concern for GWS. However, Kingsley firmly believes that will change soon.
“Last week, he had five shots on goal (resulting in four behinds). He’s had nine marks, 21 touches, 10 score involvements. He’s still impacting the game, even if it’s not reflected on the scoreboard,” Kingsley noted.
“That’s reassuring; we’re still capable of scoring without Toby’s goals. But he’s capable of dominating any game by scoring five or six goals in a single week.”
Facing West Coast at Optus Stadium, where they hold a disappointing 1-9 record, presents a challenge for the Giants. However, Kingsley remains focused on rectifying their performance at the venue.
“It’s a stunning ground to play on, but our track record there needs improvement,” Kingsley acknowledged. “Last year, we managed to succeed at 11 different venues. This will be just another one on the list.”
Despite a comfortable 39-point win over North Melbourne last week, Kingsley was dissatisfied with their first-half performance and hopes for improvement against West Coast, a team likely to finish in a similar ladder position to North Melbourne.
“That’s our message every week: we aim to be ruthless,” Kingsley emphasized. “Our defense, rather than our attack, needs improvement. North Melbourne challenged us, as West Coast will this week. We must ensure our defense is solid and unyielding.”
Kingsley appeared unperturbed by a peculiar newspaper headline in The West Australian, labeling certain Giants players as traitors. He attributed it to the passionate support of the home team, expressing no concern over the matter.
Nick Haynes, a veteran defender, will miss the trip due to personal reasons, prompting Kingsley to consider replacements such as James Peatling, Toby McMullin, or Ryan Angwin as the substitute against the Eagles.
In positive news for the Giants, 2023 draftees Phoenix Gothard and Joe Fonti have returned to training after overcoming illness and injury setbacks. Additionally, first-round selection James Leake is progressing in his recovery from a quad strain, while Darcy Jones continues to show promise for an early-season debut.
