GWS Giants’ stunning form shift proves they’re the real deal, and Cairns should take note

The Greater Western Sydney Giants have done something in the past fortnight they haven’t managed all season: beat genuine contenders back-to-back. After knocking off Geelong by 19 points in round 16, they backed it up with a 23-point win over Melbourne, turning what looked like a rebuilding year into a statement of intent. For the growing band of Giants fans in Cairns, many of whom adopted the club after its northern expansion push, this is the form they’ve been waiting for.

A mid-season turnaround built on pressure

Through the first 12 rounds, GWS looked like a team caught between eras. They sat 10th on the ladder, with losses to bottom-four sides and a habit of fading after quarter-time. But since round 13, they’ve won four of five, including victories over the Cats and Demons, two sides many had pencilled into September. The transformation has been most visible in their contested ball work: they’ve averaged 17 more contested possessions per game over that stretch, with gun onballers Tom Green and Josh Kelly lifting their output to elite levels.

Cairns has become an important second home for the Giants. The club has played a regular-season match at Cazaly’s Stadium every year since 2018, drawing strong crowds from the region’s rapidly growing population. That fixture, usually in July or August, has helped cement a loyal fan base in Far North Queensland, many of whom watch every game streamed live from the Gabba or Giants Stadium.

Why this matters now

The Giants sit 7th on the ladder with a 9-7 record, just one game outside the top four. With winnable matches against North Melbourne and the Eagles in the next three weeks, they have a genuine chance to lock in a double-chance finish. That would be a remarkable achievement for a club many analysts had written off after its 3-6 start. For Cairns fans, the prospect of finals footy at Cazaly’s, the Giants hosted an elimination final there in 2022, is no longer a distant dream.

One factor driving the turnaround is the team’s defensive structure. Under first-year senior coach Adam Kingsley, the Giants have tightened their back six significantly. They are conceding an average of just 68 points per game over the past month, compared to 82 across the first dozen rounds. That discipline has allowed their forwards, led by Jesse Hogan’s 37 goals, to capitalise on transition opportunities.

The Giants’ resurgence also carries a financial dimension for the club’s Cairns connection. Attendance at Cazaly’s for the annual GWS home game has averaged over 10,000 across the past three fixtures, according to AFL figures, a testament to the region’s appetite for elite sport. Local junior club numbers in Cairns have risen 12% in that period, with several local players signing in the Giants’ academy pathway.

What happens next hinges on the next fortnight. If GWS can handle North Melbourne on Saturday and then beat West Coast the following week at Giants Stadium, they will likely enter the final month of the season sitting fourth or fifth. That would set up a potential qualifying final in Sydney, or, if they keep winning, a return to Cazaly’s for a knockout match. For now, Cairns-based fans should pencil in late August as a time to keep their calendars clear.