Giants coach tipping more AFL upsets

GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron is tipping the trend of upset results in the AFL to continue.

Adam Kennedy of the Giants

GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron is tipping the trend of upset results in the AFL to continue. (AAP)

GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron is predicting the upsets to continue throughout the AFL season, claiming the middle-rankers of the competition are closing the gap to the elite teams.

The Giants' ten-point home win over premiers Hawthorn on Saturday lifted GWS above the Hawks on the ladder in a season in which only unbeaten Fremantle have avoided losing at least twice.

Only one win separates second from 12th with two-thirds of the 18 clubs having won at least half of their six games.

The Giants and Western Bulldogs are among the early-season surprise packets, with both boasting a 4-2 record.

"There's going be upsets all throughout the year. There's been an enormous amount of upsets," Cameron said.

"The competition is very very even. Anyone beats anyone on any given day and to have 18 sides run out and give themselves an opportunity each week that they play is fantastic for the competition.

"We know there's some powerful sides at the top, but there's a number of sides that probably sit in the middle that are starting to believe and make ground.

"Even sides like us who are coming off third last last year are starting to believe that we can actually play some really good footy against some quality opposition.

"But as quick as that comes around, if you take your eye off the ball you get beaten."

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said the Giants' win was a reflection of the evenness of the competition.

"It's really tightening up and they are becoming a very very good side," Clarkson said.

"It just shows that if you don't come with your very best on any given day you are capable of lowering your colours and that was certainly the case tonight.

"It's a tough competition. You need to play your very very best footy but it's very difficult to do that for 22 rounds."

Cameron warned GWS could react in one of two different ways to pulling off probably the greatest win in their short history.

"It can help you and make you believe that you actually are a genuine threat to most opposition sides, if you decide to turn up," Cameron said.

"Or if you take your foot off the pedal and read too much into it, the opposition that you confront next week or the week after come after you twice as hard and knock you over."


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Source: AAP


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