GWS’s volatile 2026 season has continued on Saturday night, but this time for the better — defeating Port Adelaide by two goals in enemy territory to keep their wildcard hopes alive.

Momentum swung wildly throughout the first half after a slow start from both sides, but ultimately the Giants came up trumps to win 10.15 (75) over the Power’s 9.9 (63).

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More specifically, an unanswered six-goal run from the visitors proved the difference across the second and third quarter, which was highlighted by their willingness to move the ball by hand at every opportunity.

Veterans Jake Stringer and Stephen Congilio were particularly prominent in front of goal with three majors apiece, while fellow seasoned campaigner Lachie Whitfield was excellent with 29 disposals, nine intercepts and a goal off half-back.

For the Power, Mitch Georgiades kicked three more of his own to continue his stellar season; though will be ruing a missed opportunity or two in front of the big sticks.

Port Adelaide goalkickers: Georgiades 3, Marshall 2, Horne-Francis, Bergman, Zadow, Bamert

GWS goalkickers: Coniglio, Stringer 3, Cadman, Angwin, Whitfield, Brown

THE 3-2-1…

3. VETERANS TURN BACK CLOCK TO KEEP GIANT FINALS HOPES ALIVE

It was all about the senior figures in Adam Kingsley’s outfit on Saturday night, defying an incredibly brutal injury list to chalk up a crucial home-and-away win.

Off half-back it was Lachie Whitfield. Through the midfield it was Clayton Oliver. Up forward, it was Jake Stringer and Stephen Coniglio.

The quartet all played major roles in getting up by two goals against, yet again, a valiant Power outfit. Crucially though, it was a win on the road that was nowhere near as much of a certainty as they may have thought three or four months ago.

Whitfield and Oliver were particularly prolific early, with the latter picking up where he left off at a ground he seemingly plays at so well.

“He loves Adelaide Oval. Across his career, he averages 29 disposals, 16 contested possessions and eight clearances (a game),” four-time premiership player Shaun Burgoyne told Fox Footy at half time.

“(Miles) Bergman and (Jase) Burgoyne are both going to him at different stages to try and limit his impact in and around the stoppage — but he’s a dead-set bull.

“He just does whatever he needs to do for the team, and he takes the punishment as well.”

Crows legend Mark Ricciuto added: “They’d be lost without him this year, with the injuries they’ve had.

Former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon then added: “He’s just your blue-collar worker, he’s happy to do the work and roll the sleeves up.”

While the Giants will still finish Round 21 a game outside the Top 10, looming home fixtures against Gold Coast and West Coast in the next fortnight look extremely winnable if they can bring their best football.

If successful, a Round 24 date with Adelaide back at the Adelaide Oval looks set to decide their wildcard fate — a match that would allow them to secure an all-important 12th win for the home-and-away season.

2. NO BUTTERS, NO ROZEE… BUT SUPERSTAR’S ‘PERSONAL BEST’ SHINES BRIGHT

The midfield load has never been heavier on the shoulders of South Australian superstar Jason Horne-Francis, but you wouldn’t know it watching him play this year.

With no Connor Rozee since Round 2 and no Zak Butters these last three weeks, the 23-year-old has naturally become the Power’s number one target for opposition teams to clamp down on-ball.

However, he’s flourished in the spotlight — a spectacle on full display Saturday at the ‘Portress’.

“He’s having a personal best year, there’s no doubt about it,” Crows legend Mark Ricciuto told Fox Footy at half time.

“They just panic because he’s so powerful, quick and dangerous when he gets the ball. They panic and hold onto him, and he does so much good work in the centre square as well.

“He’s doing the old-fashioned ‘midfield-full-forward’ rotation — the best rotation in the competition! He does it perfectly, he’s great on the lead.

“When he gets the ball, Port Adelaide plays well.”

Horne-Francis had 17 disposals, three clearances and a goal at the main break, and while his usage by foot wasn’t entirely perfect, he was still the catalyst at the nucleus for Josh Carr’s depleted outfit from the get-go — both with his pressure and ball-winning.

“This is an absolute smashing early from Port Adelaide. Five clearances to one, and seven inside 50s to one,” Ricciuto said during the opening term.

Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon added: “The pressure factor is 206 (Port Adelaide) to 153 (GWS) — that’s been off the charts. They have dropped away at that the last few weeks, but they’ve been great at it (most) of the year.”

Both teams evened up towards a rating of 180 by quarter time, as the Giants worked their way into the contest.

Horne-Francis celebrates kicking the first goal of Port Adelaide’s clash with the GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval on August 1, 2026.Source: Getty Images

1. ‘KAMIKAZE’ SECOND STANZA THROWS UP WILD WATCH, CRAZY STAT

After a slow first term, both the Giants and Power took the safety gloves off to open up what had initially been a congested game.

Their four goals apiece in the second quarter provided volatile swings for and against each side, that started and finished with the visitors

“It was whoever could capitalise on the turnover, wasn’t it? Both teams were going kamikaze and turning it over, but they just couldn’t get the connection inside 50,” Shaun Burgoyne said at half time.

“They (Port) found their overlap run, and found their way through the Giants defence … they were actually thinking their way through it.”

That patch Burogyne referred to saw Port Adelaide own the uncontested pill to an unbelievable extent across a 10-minute period, where their 25 uncontested possessions monstered over the Giants’ one.

Miles Bergman and Ollie Wines were among the more prominent ball winners on the outside, but unfortunately the Power weren’t able to hold that momentum for too long.

“It was an entertaining first half … but there were momentum shifts everywhere in that second quarter!” Ben Dixon said.

Mark Ricciuto added: “GWS got out of the blocks, didn’t take full advantage, and then Port were all over them. Then, GWS come back again!”

The Giants led by two points at the main break, before running rampant after half time to give themselves a considerable buffer heading into the final break.

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