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GWS have put one foot in the AFL finals with a club-record score as Jesse Hogan booted nine goals in a stunning 126-point triumph over Essendon at Giants Stadium.
The ruthless Giants crushed a lacklustre Bombers outfit to give both their percentage and finals chances a huge boost with a 25.12 (162) to 5.6 (36) thumping on Saturday.
The Giants lifted their percentage from 98.6 to 105.6 and sent a warning shot across the competition, but might still need to win their round 24 clash with Carlton and hope other results go their way to finish in the top eight.
Rout: Daniel Lloyd celebrates one of GWS’s many goals.Credit: AFL Photos
The Bombers are now all but out of the finals race as they were outplayed from the early exchanges and looked to be limping to the line while the Giants started strongly and powered away.
Hogan made the most of a superb all-round performance from the Giants to bag a career-high haul while being a key to the result with 17 marks and 24 disposals.
Gun onballer Tom Green (39 disposals, 18 contested, nine clearances) was also crucial for the Giants, as were veterans Stephen Coniglio (31 touches), Josh Kelly and Callan Ward (both 30).
The Giants (12-10) made an early statement in the virtual elimination final as they booted 13.5 to 2.1 in the opening half while controlling the ball with 208-158 disposals and territory with 40-20 inside 50s.
Brent Daniels lit up the contest late in the opening term after marking just inside the boundary and bending a banana kick through from 40m for his second of three goals for the match.
The Giants proved to be too polished from there and were able to manage Toby Greene by subbing out their captain in the third term.
Andrew McGrath (32 disposals), Zach Merrett (27) and Darcy Parish (25) found plenty of the ball for the Bombers but had little impact as the Giants cruised over the top of them.
The Bombers (11-11) swung a late change with Jake Stringer moved from the starting 22 into the sub role on his return from a foot injury and replaced by Jye Caldwell.
Stringer entered the match when the game was already well and truly gone and ended with 11 disposals.
Essendon face ladder leaders Collingwood on Friday night, while GWS will be out to lock in a finals spot in the last game of the round against Carlton on Sunday.
Giant Harry Himmelberg takes the handball receive and boots a goal in the massive win over Essendon.Credit: Fox Footy
Magpies forward McCreery banned for dangerous tackle
AAP
Collingwood could be without Beau McCreery for their final-round AFL clash with Essendon after the pressure forward was offered a one-game suspension for a dangerous tackle.
McCreery was cited by the match review officer after slamming Brisbane Lions defender Darcy Wilmot into the Marvel Stadium turf during the third quarter of the Lions’ 24-point win on Friday night.
The rough conduct incident was graded as careless, medium impact and high contact meaning the 22-year-old can accept a one-game suspension.
Beau McCreery.Credit: Getty Images
Collingwood and McCreery may elect to challenge the ban and take their case to the tribunal.
If McCreery accepts the suspension, he will not be available until Collingwood’s qualifying final.
It is another blow for the ladder-leading Magpies, for whom the defeat was the third in their last four outings.
Collingwood were without superstars Darcy Moore, Jordan De Goey and Nick Daicos for the top-of-the-table showdown with Brisbane.
The Magpies should regain De Goey, as well as small forward Bobby Hill, against the Bombers on Friday.
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