1. A successful return for 'The General'
After two reconstructions on the same knee Jon Patton deserves a bit of time on the field to show everyone why he was the number one pick in 2011. The 22-year-old played his first game of the season against Essendon and while he didn't dominate, Patton showed glimpses of his enormous talent. He grabbed a one hander inside the first minute but couldn't make it a dream comeback when he shanked his shot from 30 metres out. He finished the day with nine possessions and four marks in the Giants' 32-point win, and although he couldn't hit the scoreboard, hopefully he will have an injury-free run for the rest of the year. 

SHOWREEL: Patton's successful return

2. The Giants' kicking needs serious work
It's been a problem for the Giants all season; their foot skills just aren't up to scratch. In front of goal they're going at less than 50 per cent, but it's not just the finishing that is an issue for coach Leon Cameron. Against the Bombers the Giants' defenders continually turned the ball over coming out of their back 50, often under very little pressure. Going forward, quality midfielders kicked the footy over the head of leading targets, sat it on their head, or placed it to the advantage of the Essendon defenders. Jeremy Cameron and Jon Patton had to be frustrated at the delivery they received. The young Giants can't keep burning themselves and their hard work if they hope to make the eight and with all due respect to the Bombers, the home side was extremely lucky the opposition didn't have the arsenal to take advantage.

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3. Why was Jon Giles not in the Essendon side before round 18?
Not sure what the former Giant did to the coaching staff pre-season but he was the forgotten man at the Bombers for most of the year when they were crying out for a ruckman. With Paddy Ryder gone, Tom Bellchambers was the first-choice big man, but even when he went down, James Hird preferred Shaun McKernan in the ruck instead of Giles. He's no match-winner but the 27-year-old at least provides a strong body, and against the Giants he had 15 contested possessions and scored the most AFL Player Ratings points on the ground. The Bombers aren't exactly chock-full of hard ball winners so you'd think Giles would have been pretty handy in the centre square in 2015. A puzzling coaching decision.

4. The axing of Cam McCarthy was a good call
Some eyebrows were raised when the rising star nominee was dropped for the Giants' round 17 clash with Geelong but it looks to have done the West Australian a world of good. McCarthy had kicked 32 goals from 15 games when he was sent back to the NEAFL, but had struggled to have an impact for the previous month of footy. He was recalled to face Essendon, sparked the home side when he entered the game in the third term off the subs bench. McCarthy had a hand in a couple of GWS goals in the third term and kicked two of his own in the last, but more importantly looked refreshed and hungry to get his hands on the ball. It might have been his bright green boots, but the pony-tailed forward also looked a bit quicker across the ground.

5. Dyson Heppell does have bad days after all
With his skipper Jobe Watson gone for the year, Heppell is his side's best midfielder, but the mop-haired Bomber had a quiet game in Sydney. GWS stopper Stephen Coniglio did a fine job in limiting his influence for most of the game, and Heppell finished with just 18 touches, when he's averaging over 25 for the year. The 23 year-old is a star of the competition but quite simply doesn't get enough support from his teammates, whether it be around stoppages or in general play, and he'll be hanging out for the return of Watson in 2016.