1. Carlton's coach-in-waiting an interested onlooker
Newly appointed Carlton coach Brendan Bolton made the trip to Sydney to watch the Blues take on the Giants. While he wouldn't have been blown away by the footy they served up, he would have been impressed with Carlton's effort at least. The visitors were without captain Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Dale Thomas, but youngster Patrick Cripps showed why he's a favourite to take out this year's NAB Rising Star Award with 30 possessions, 18 of those contested, despite plenty of attention from GWS stopper Stephen Coniglio. Dylan Buckley, Blaine Boekhorst and Matthew Dick were also prominent and would have impressed Bolton ahead of his debut season at the helm in 2016.
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2. Was this Adam Treloar's last game in Sydney as a Giant?
The star midfielder is still yet to re-sign with the Giants, so his classy display against the Blues could have been Treloar's final home outing in the orange and grey. The 22-year-old clearly loves his teammates, so the decision on his future must be tearing him apart, whether it's already been made or not. His CEO hasn't given up on retaining the midfield gun, who has battled a groin problem over the past few weeks and still looks hampered by the injury. However, he racked up 27 touches and kicked three goals against Carlton. He'll finish high up in the club champion award this year.
3. Where is Chris Yarran at?
The answer, in terms of his career, is a pretty dark place. The West Australian returned to the senior side against GWS but looked disinterested. With one match remaining for the season, it looks as though Yarran has already checked his mind into off-season mode. It's a real shame to see a player with so much talent struggle so badly, and a hamstring injury only added to his woeful trip north.
4. An embarrassment of riches up forward for GWS
When the Giants were flying at the beginning of the year, Jeremy Cameron, Cam McCarthy and James Stewart were giving the side three big targets inside their forward 50. Stewart's form fell away first, to followed by McCarthy, which left Cameron to be double-teamed by opposition defenders most weeks. The trio clicked against Carlton, with Cameron's seven goals and 12 marks leading the way, while Stewart kicked two of his own and took eight grabs. All this with former No.1 draft pick Jonathon Patton sitting on the sidelines. GWS looks far more dangerous with its big, mobile forwards in form.
Cameron curls home his sixth! A five-goal second half for Jezza! #AFLGiantsBlues http://t.co/9aXJS3Ts7W
— AFL (@AFL) August 29, 2015
5. Wounded Griffen cuts a sorry figure
Ryan Griffen limped from the field in the third term with what looked like a nasty knee injury, but despite his absence, the Giants had plenty of grunt on ball in the form of Callan Ward. The co-captain continued his consistent season with another impressive outing against the Blues. Ward finished the day with 23 touches, 11 of them contested, six clearances and seven tackles. Ward has been a star for GWS since crossing from the Dogs and should be very close to adding a second Kevin Sheedy Medal to the one he won as the Giants' best and fairest player in 2012. They've got plenty of young talent on the list at GWS and there's no better man to lead the way than Ward.