Heavy loss a backward step for Giants

GWS coach Leon Cameron will resist making mass changes at the selection table despite his team’s dismal display in Saturday’s 87-point loss to West Coast in Perth.

The Giants were uncompetitive after quarter time, with the Eagles piling on 14 goals to one to secure the 18.12 (120) to 4.9 (33) rout.

GWS were being talked up as a genuine finals contender following their 3-1 start to the season, but Cameron admits the embarrassing loss to West Coast was a backward step for his fledgling outfit.

Cameron was heavily critical of his team’s unwillingness to compete for the hard balls against a slick Eagles outfit.

But he’s vowed to give his players a chance to atone against Hawthorn at Spotless Stadium on Saturday.

“I trust the boys to bounce back. I trust they can get straight back on the bike and take it right up to Hawthorn,” Cameron said.

“My job is to make sure we come with a far better competitive effort than what we served up (against the Eagles).

“When it’s not on your terms, you’ve got to get your hands dirty. You’ve got to win contested footy.”

The Giants have a host of stars coming off contract this year, with Dylan Shiel, Adam Treloar, Will Hoskin-Elliott, and Stephen Coniglio among the big names still yet to be locked in.

Cameron doesn’t believe the contract uncertainties will be a distraction, and he’s confident a host of deals will be finalised across the year.

“The thing that gives me great confidence is these young lads look at me in the eye and say they want to be at our footy club,” Cameron said.

“They want to be part of something special.

“They know there’s going to be some ups and downs. But they clearly want to be part of this club, because they’ve been here from the start.”

Forward Jeremy Cameron is expected to face the Hawks despite being left bloodied and dazed after being cleaned up in a marking contest against the Eagles.

Hawthorn could enter the match without stars Luke Hodge and Jordan Lewis after the veteran duo were involved in ugly incidents during Saturday’s 60-point win over North Melbourne.

Hodge struck Andrew Swallow in the jaw with a swinging left arm, while Lewis felled Todd Goldstein with a coat hanger after the Kangaroos ruckman had taken a mark.

West Coast have improved to 3-2 following consecutive wins over Brisbane and GWS.

But they’ll be sweating on injuries to Josh Kennedy and Will Schofield ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Power in Adelaide.

Kennedy finished with six goals against GWS despite hyper extending his right elbow early in the match, while Schofield (right ankle) also played through injury to finish the game.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson admits the match against Port Adelaide will be a huge test for his side.

“We played them pre-season and they were electric then,” Simpson said.

“They take the game on. They’re really fast starters, so we’ll use every minute we can to recover and throw everything at it.”

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