Emerging youngsters and unsung veterans are proving Greater Western Sydney aren't just relying on top end talent to march up the AFL table.
Successive gritty wins over premiers Richmond and Port Adelaide and six victories from their last seven games, have propelled GWS to sixth on the ladder and thrust them back into the finals picture.
They can push for a top four spot if they beat stragglers St Kilda and Carlton over the next two rounds.
While the return from injury of stars including Toby Greene and Josh Kelly have undoubtedly helped, the input of less heralded players has also been a factor in their resurgence.
Much has been made in the past of the Giants' many first-round draft picks in their early seasons, but it's their lower round selections from last year who are making a big impression.
They unearthed a fourth-round nugget in mature age small forward Zac Langdon.
Taken with pick 56, the 22-year-old West Australian is the Giants second highest goalkicker behind Jeremy Cameron, having tallied 16.5 from 14 appearances and averaged four tackles a game.
GWS pulled off another draft steal in the second round with key defender Sam Taylor, another WA product.
The No.28 pick earned a Rising Star nomination in just his sixth game.
Of the older brigade, 29-year-old ruckman Dawson Simpson excelled against Port.
He collected 46 hitouts, his highest tally for the club and the third best haul of his career.
All this in his 37th game spread over almost eight largely unheralded seasons.
Then there's Sam Reid, who at the age of 28 has played more games in 2018 than in any of his eight previous seasons, missing only one match.
The recent return from long term injuries of foundation Giants Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy have added depth and steel.
The efforts of players like Langdon and Dawson have not gone unnoticed by senior members of the squad..
"Dawson is probably in the best patch of his career and he's been in the AFL for a really long time," GWS vice-captain Stephen Coniglio said.
"I think Zac Langdon, a very late pick, players like that.
"We do have a lot of talent but at the same time, we've got a hard working group.
"That will hold us in good stead in the coming months."
