After seven weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury, Simon Black looked like he hadn't missed a beat. The 2002 Brownlow medallist had 10 touches at quarter-time and wasn't slowing down there. He finished with 28 for the match and ran rings around his younger Giants opponents. One passage in the second quarter had Black streaming through the middle of the ground looking for targets with his left foot, before baulking, switching to his right and pin-pointing a pass to an open Josh Green. With his future in doubt, Lions fans are lapping up every possession they see from the triple-premiership champion.
2. Cameron closes on the Coleman
His teammates might look tired and the ball isn't going inside 50 many times (41) but Jeremy Cameron inched closer to an unlikely Coleman Medal. The super talented 20-year-old kicked two goals against close-checking Joel Patfull to move his season tally to 60 and alongside West Coast's Josh Kennedy and Hawthorn's Jarryd Roughead with two rounds remaining. He even gave one off in the goalsquare in the final two minutes to Lachie Whitfield. The Giants finish with a home match against Richmond and a final-day trip to the Gold Coast, giving him a big chance to take the coveted award.
3.Finally, a free kick count to the Lions
It took 10 weeks, but the Lions got there – they won the free kick count 25-21. They concede more free kicks than any other team in the competition, but ended on the right side of the ledger after nine successive losses. Daniel Rich won five and Matthew Leuenberger four in the closely officiated match.
4. Mayes magic lights up the night
On a night low on intensity, first-year Lion Sam Mayes took another step in stamping himself as a star of the future. The 19-year-old showed just what he could do against players his own age with four first half goals in his 12 disposals (he finished with 21 overall). They came in all manner of sorts too, including a snap from a stoppage, a mark on the lead, goal on the run, and another snap under immense pressure in the forward pocket. He won't win the Rising Star, but Mayes has played 16 matches and been the Lions' find of the season.
5. More gaffes by the goal umpires
Goal umpiring and the score review system have thrown up their fair share of howlers this season and you can add a couple more to the list. In the first quarter Daniel Merrett soccered one off the ground that clearly went wide of the behind post, yet the Lions were awarded a point. No review was called for. Then in the third quarter, Josh Green snapped with his right foot and the ball ever-so-slightly deflected off the left hand goal post, but the red-haired goalsneak was awarded a goal. Again no review was called for. The decisions made no difference to the final score, but Jeff Gieschen and his men have a few more headaches.
