After 14 seasons and 265 games, Western Bulldogs veteran Daniel Giansiracusa hung up the boots for the final time on Sunday. The highly-respected Dog retires as his club's ninth-longest servant in terms of games played and sits seventh on the goalkicking list with 331 majors since being drafted with pick No.32 in 1999. Gia led the Doggies onto the ground through a guard of honour and, for only the third time in his 15 games this season, avoided the green sub's vest. There was plenty of life in the old Dog, who almost inspired a final triumph by booting two crucial goals from 20 touches. He could have been the hero in the dying moments but his snap from the pocket failed went out on the full when scores were level with less than two minutes remaining.

 

After 198 games and two premierships for Geelong, defender Josh Hunt bowed out of AFL for the last time as a Giant. Recruited by GWS as a free agent last year, Hunt contributed 14 games and a wealth of experience to the young Giants in his solitary season in Sydney. Fittingly, Hunt lined up on the Bulldog's retiring champ Giansiracusa and, as he has throughout his career, unleashed many of his trademark booming left-foot kicks that has him eyeing an NFL punting career.

 

GWS' improving form at the MCG was rewarded with a first win at the home of football in round 21, a 64-point win over Melbourne, and the Giants have now notched their first win at Etihad Stadium. In their previous six games at the venue GWS has an average losing margin of 70 points. It was also GWS' first win over the Bulldogs in four meetings, with the Dogs winning the previous three clashes in Canberra by an average of 24 points.

 

It's staggering, but the 66th match in GWS' three-season history saw the 64th player represent the club. South Fremantle product Cameron McCarthy, the Giants' third pick at No.13 overall in last year's NAB AFL Draft, became the club's fourth debutant this year when he stripped off the green substitute's vest late in the third term. The 193cm, 19-year-old can play at either end and he had a crack, kicking a stunning goal from 45m on the boundary and gathering five possessions with two tackles in limited game time.

 

The Bulldogs reportedly chased Giants key forward Jon Patton before the unlucky youngster suffered another ACL injury and re-signed to stay in Sydney, and it must have pained Dogs fans to see more of GWS' tall forward riches on display on Sunday. James Stewart, passed on by Collingwood as a father-son prospect, put on a first-half show, booting three goals to set up the Giants' upset win. Incredibly, 198cm Stewart is probably no higher than fourth in line for a key forward position behind Patton, Jeremy Cameron and Tom Boyd.