Latest news with #GWSGiants
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stringer threatens to be finals wildcard for GWS
GWS may have unlocked the best version of Jake Stringer. After an injury-interrupted start to his time in Sydney, the explosive forward has added another element to a power-packed Giants front-half. In his first game against his former club Essendon, Stringer fired with three goals,18 disposals and three score involvements in a 48-point win on Thursday night. Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan (foot) will return for next Friday night's Sydney derby, joining young gun Aaron Cadman, captain Toby Greene and Stringer in arguably the AFL's most potent forward line. "I'm Jake Stringer, and I can fly high!"The Package takes flight! #AFLDonsGiants — 7AFL (@7AFL) July 17, 2025 Giants coach Adam Kingsley has been thrilled with Stringer involving other teammates in play, backing up a four-goal haul against Geelong last week. During his time at the Bombers, Stringer was the frontman and felt pressure to win games off his own boot. "That's been a bit of a trademark of his last month for us," Kingsley said of Stringer's unselfish acts. "He's been able to kick some miraculous goals, particularly that Gold Coast game. "But then the West Coast game, you saw a real selflessness, giving goals off, where he had every right to take those shots. "Then we saw that again (against Essendon), running into open an goal and handballs to a guy in the goal square (Max Gruzewski). "His intent to chase, tackle, pressure feels like it's at a really good level." Kingsley admitted Stringer was apprehensive ahead of the clash with the Bombers, but didn't need any extra advice. "He's a very intelligent player. He sees the game well," he said. "He often has suggestions for me during the game ... he sees the game incredibly well. "He's a smart guy. He didn't need any coaching. "When we decided to bring him across, this is what we had in mind. "He's going to contribute to our game, both on offence and on defence. Essendon coach Brad Scott also couldn't speak highly enough of Stringer, who left during the last trade period following 123 games for the Bombers. "When his team's playing well, Jake can finish as well as anyone," Scott said. "Despite what people may think - I'd actually prefer it wasn't tonight - but I'm very pleased for him. "He wanted to prolong his career. "We're going in a different direction. I see the result there as a win-win." GWS (12-6) finished the first game of round 19 fourth on the ladder, but could end the weekend as low as seventh. Finalists the last two seasons, the Giants have won five-straight games since their shock loss against Port Adelaide in Canberra last month.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Footy world stunned by Jake Stringer act against his old club
Jake Stringer looks to be settling in beautifully at the GWS Giants and it is not sitting well with his last AFL stop. The 31-year-old Stringer has been a polarising figure across his 223-game career with the Bulldogs, Bombers and now Giants. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. An All-Australian back in 2015 and a six-time club leading goalkicker, Stringer has also had off-field issues and left both the Dogs and Essendon on bad terms. Facing the Bombers for the first time since ending his 123-game stint with the Melbourne club, Stringer said pre-match on Fox Footy he was 'hoping for a few boos'. He didn't need to worry about that, with the boos raining down whenever he touched the footy against his injury-ravaged club. Unfortunately for Essendon fans, that happened a lot, with Stringer playing a starring role as the Giants built a big lead at Marvel Stadium. Journalist and Bombers fan Caspar McLeod tweeted pre-game: 'Jake Stringer … please take it easy on us.' The powerfully built 192cm forward had other ideas, however, stamping his authority on the game in the second term. GWS only took a seven-point lead into quarter-time before Stringer burst into action. Midway through the second term, he was booed when he tried to take a mark and again when a forward entry ended up in his vicinity. He then got his moment from a ball-up in the forward 50m, when Kieren Briggs tapped the ball to Stringer, who had an open goal ahead of him. But he opted to handball to young teammate Max Gruzewski, who kicked the goal. 'Wow. Wow. Jake Stinger, that is awesome,' David King said on Fox Footy. 'We've seen him do this at centre bounce clearances over the last few years, but from forward 50 stoppage I'm not sure I've seen him do much of this.' Jack Riewoldt added: 'I love this. I think it shows where Jake Stringer's mindset is, coming up against his old side. 'He gives this away to the young player Gruzewski and this shows where his mindset is at, the team player Jake Stringer is.' King then joked: 'And in true forward fashion, he handballed it so poorly he was a chance to get it back.' Just 10 secs of game time later, Tom Green found Stringer on the lead and he took the uncontested mark as the boos rained down again. 'The booing is the loudest we've heard Bombers fans all night,' Mark Howard said in commentary. 'Stringer gave the last one off, he's been in a rich vein of goalkicking form. 'Six-time leading goalkicker, off four last week, from 50 Stringer … Essendon cannot kick a goal and the Giants cannot miss.' That stretched the Giants' lead to 28 points as they started to pull away. 'They get to him, they know what this means to Jake,' King said after he kicked his first. 'He's probably circled this one in the calendar, a lot of unhappy Bombers fans. 'He's just been so good to watch this guy for a long period of time, he's a 'moments' player.' Gruzewski's goal sparked a run of four gin seven minutes to break the game open before debutant Liam McMahon finally responded with Essendon's first goal. Dating back to last week's dreadful performance against Richmond, the Bombers had gone 92 minutes of game time between goals. Early in the third term, Stringer intercepted a handball and threw the ball on his left foot and found Callum Brown, who missed his set shot. The premiership player with the Dogs then pulled off a spectacular mark after a forward entry from Toby Bedford and snapped the goal for his second of the night. 'Wow, they have recruited a highlights package, there's no doubt about that the Giants,' King said. 'He's just starting to find his feet in this line up. I tell you what, this is when you want him rolling, back half of the year.' He had three goals by three quarter-time and it's fair to say Bombers fans weren't enjoying the show and many watching on were keen to comment on the persistent booing. 'Lol who's booing Jake Stringer? He got pushed out of the club for a bag of potato chips, please,' was one comment on X. Richmond fan Paul White tweeted: 'Bomber fans booing Jake Stringer. So on point for those in red and black.' Jasper Chellappah offered: 'I have never seen Jake Stringer pass a goal off before, let alone running into an open goal.' A fourth wrote: 'Why boo Jake Stringer? He didn't leave. Essendon chose to move him on. ' The Giants' X account then got in on the action. 'The crowd here really like Jake Stringer,' they tweeted. Another fan gushed: 'I am feeling proud of Jake Stringer tonight, that play showed him being a teammate and towards the young player, and the goal for himself he deserves that, it was a great goal too. Just ignore the noise. Well done.' It's only early in Stringer's time with the Giants, but he's made a promising start as he makes his mark away from the Melbourne footy bubble.
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
West Coast footballer banned for ‘highly offensive' slur
West Coast midfielder Jack Graham has admitted to using a 'highly offensive' homophobic slur during his team's loss to the Giants. The AFL on Sunday handed down a four-match suspension. According to the football club, Graham informed team official he had said the offensive comment during the Giants' 59-point loss at Optus Stadium on Friday, July 5. The AFL said in a statement the club then notified the league about the incident on Monday. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The 27-year-old is in breach of AFL Rule 2.3(a), Conduct Unbecoming, with Graham self-reporting to the Eagles before the league were made aware on Friday morning. It has been reported it occurred during the second quarter of the match. According to the AFL, Graham used a highly offensive homophobic slur against a GWS Giants opponent, which 'demeans and denigrates persons regardless of their sexuality'. Graham has apologised privately to the unnamed Giants player his slur was directed towards. The AFL said Graham had also made an apology to chief executive Andrew Dillon. The two-time Richmond premiership player — who is now a part of West Coast's leadership group — will undertake Pride in Sport education as a result of his actions. 'I am very remorseful for the word I used and know such language has no place in our community or our game,' Graham said via a West Coast club statement. 'I have offered my unreserved apology to the Giants player and Greater Western Sydney and would also like to publicly apologise for my comment. 'What I said does not reflect my values or our Club values. I made a mistake and need to be better and will prove that through my actions going forward.' Eagles chief executive Don Pyke added: 'The word Jack used is completely unacceptable and does not align with societal and Club values. 'Player welfare was front of mind throughout the process and we were in regular contact with the Giants following the match and earlier this week around this situation. 'With no match day report being lodged, both clubs agreed the appropriate course of action was to refer the matter to the AFL. 'Jack personally called AFL CEO Andrew Dillon to apologise and has taken full responsibility and accepted the sanction that has been handed down. Given his four-game ban, Graham has been withdrawn from Sunday evening's clash against Port Adelaide. After initially being omitted, young ruck Jack Williams replaces him and holds his place in the side. Graham is the fourth AFL player in 16 months to be suspended for the use of a homophobic slur, with Port Adelaide's Jeremy Finlayson, Gold Coast's Wil Powell and St Kilda's Lance Collard each receiving suspensions between four and six weeks. 'Everyone understands the word he used is both hurtful and totally unacceptable in any setting, ever.' AFL Head of Integrity and Security Tony Keane said in the AFL's own statement. 'The AFL is very clear that homophobia has no place in our game, nor in the community. We have come a long way as a code, but this incident demonstrates there is so much more to be done, and we will continue to work together to improve our game as a safe and inclusive environment for all. 'The AFL will continue to consider the specific circumstances in each incident in determining appropriate responses. Graham's sanction would have been higher if he hadn't self-reported and understood his comment was totally inappropriate.'
The Guardian
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
AFL bans West Coast player Jack Graham for four matches over homophobic slur
West Coast player Jack Graham has been suspended for four matches and will undertake an education program after using a 'highly offensive' homophobic slur during an AFL match against GWS Giants. The 27-year-old used the offensive term towards a Giants opponent during their round 17 clash and later self-reported the incident to the Eagles. The club passed the report to the AFL on Friday morning with the AFL Integrity Unit undertaking an immediate investigation and moving quickly to sanction Graham who has been withdrawn from the West Coast side to face Port Adelaide on Sunday. 'Graham used a highly offensive homophobic slur against a GWS Giants opponent, which demeans and denigrates persons regardless of their sexuality,' the AFL said in a statement. The former Richmond player will not be eligible to play for West Coast or at any level of football for the next four weeks and will also undertake Pride in Sport education. All AFL and AFLW Players and officials receive yearly education regarding vilification and the impact of such behaviour. 'Everyone understands the word he used is both hurtful and totally unacceptable in any setting, ever,' Tony Keane, AFL head of integrity and security, said. 'The AFL is very clear that homophobia has no place in our game, nor in the community. We have come a long way as a code, but this incident demonstrates there is so much more to be done, and we will continue to work together to improve our game as a safe and inclusive environment for all. The AFL took into account Graham's self-reporting of the incident, along with his private apology to the unnamed Giants player and contrition when considering its sanctions. Graham also rang AFL chief executive, Andrew Dillion, directly to apologise. 'I am very remorseful for the word I used and know such language has no place in our community or our game,' Graham said. 'I have offered my unreserved apology to the Giants player and Greater Western Sydney and would also like to publicly apologise for my comment. 'What I said does not reflect my values or our club values. I made a mistake and need to be better and will prove that through my actions going forward.' Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion Graham is playing his first season with the Eagles after lining up in 131 matches and winning two premierships with the Tigers. West Coast said that Graham had admitted to using a homophobic slur and accepted the sanctions handed down by the AFL. 'The word Jack used is completely unacceptable and does not align with societal and club values,' West Coast chief executive, Don Pyke, said. 'Jack understands the harmful effects comments like these can have on others and he has been honest in addressing this matter.'
ABC News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
AFL bans Eagles' Jack Graham for using homophobic slur against Giants
The AFL has banned West Coast Eagles player Jack Graham for four matches after he admitted to using a "highly offensive homophobic slur" against a GWS opponent. The incident occurred during the round 17 match between the Eagles and Giants in Perth this month. Graham self-reported the incident to the Eagles, who informed the AFL integrity unit on Friday. The AFL said Graham's sanction would have been heavier had he not self-reported. "Graham used a highly offensive homophobic slur against a GWS Giants opponent, which demeans and denigrates persons regardless of their sexuality," an AFL statement read. "Graham has received a four-match sanction, with the AFL taking into account Graham's self-reporting of the incident, along with his private apology and contrition. "Graham also rang the AFL CEO [Andrew Dillon] directly to apologise. "He will not be eligible to play for the West Coast Eagles or any level of football for the next four weeks. "As a part of the sanction, Graham will also undertake Pride in Sport education." Graham said he took responsibility for his behaviour. "I am very remorseful for the word I used and know such language has no place in our community or our game," Graham said in an Eagles statement. "I have offered my unreserved apology to the Giants player and Greater Western Sydney and would also like to publicly apologise for my comment. "What I said does not reflect my values or our club values. I made a mistake and need to be better and will prove that through my actions going forward." Eagles chief executive Don Pyke said the club was "very disappointed" by Graham's comment. "The word Jack used is completely unacceptable and does not align with societal and club values," Pyke said. "Jack understands the harmful effects comments like these can have on others and he has been honest in addressing this matter." AFL head of integrity and security Tony Keane said the word used by Graham was "hurtful". "The AFL is very clear that homophobia has no place in our game, nor in the community," Keane said. "We have come a long way as a code, but this incident demonstrates there is so much more to be done, and we will continue to work together to improve our game as a safe and inclusive environment for all. "The AFL will continue to consider the specific circumstances in each incident in determining appropriate responses." ABC
