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Stevo's Sting - GWS can't afford to slip into 'T20 mode'

There can be too much "wobble" in GWS.

It was worse in past years, but the head wobble resurfaced again on Saturday.

The Giants played like a team believing the hype.

Collingwood was sensational, but GWS's second and third terms reeked of a side too happy with itself.

Too much lairising, too much Hollywood-style footy, and it all unwound. The last term was better, but the damage was done.

REALITY CHECK: Giants coach laments worst hour of season

To use a cricket analogy, the Giants have a habit of slipping into T20 mode - all flashy entertainment and not enough substance.

The best sides grind it out, week in, week out - in Test match style.

Leon Cameron has had far more success with this during 2016, as the lapses have been nowhere near as regular as through 2015.

But high on the coach's wish list must be exterminating T20 from the Giants' DNA.

The Dogs have been close to the most consistent side in the comp this year, really putting in only one bad performance.

Had they hung on against the Hawks in Round 3, the day Bob Murphy's knee buckled in the dying stages, they would be sitting on top of the ladder right now.

So on past form, there should be no issues putting Gold Coast away on Saturday night. Especially with Gary Ablett missing.

But selling the game at Cairns still leaves the club open to a slither of undue risk.

The Dogs take on a Suns side minus injured skipper Ablett. Pic: Getty
The Dogs take on a Suns side minus injured skipper Ablett. Pic: Getty

The cash is nice, but selling games up north isn't ideal from a football perspective.

Play Gold Coast at Etihad and watch the percentage get a boost. Play the Suns in Cairns and cross your fingers. Rain is forecast, and it will be slippery at night regardless.

Fact is, the Suns will be harder to beat in Cairns than in Docklands.

You can understand the Dogs playing home games in Ballarat and setting up a real home advantage, but this is selling a game to the home state of the Suns.

Back the Dogs to get it done, but I don't like it.

Watched Trent Cotchin up close on Saturday night. He set the tone with his attack on the footy at the very first bounce and was fanatical all night in a tight contest.

Cotchin was impressive for the Tigers against the Dogs. Pic: Getty
Cotchin was impressive for the Tigers against the Dogs. Pic: Getty

Very difficult to question his leadership at Tigerland. Martin got all the kudos, yet Cotchin did so much of the grunt work.

Great to see him kick a running goal from 50m too, winding back the clock.

Told the MRP looked at 60 separate incidents for one suspension this week.

And credit to the panel for giving a week to Levi Casboult for his gut punch.

The crackdown has come a bit late. Tom Lynch of the Suns should've gone for a similar whack.

The MRP got it spot on with David Zaharakis a week earlier.

Not so long ago on radio RSN, Magpie great Mick McGuane annointed Taylor Adams as the club's next skipper.

Great call as Adams led brilliantly with his actions against the Giants ... and first up off the back of a nasty hammy injury.