Despite Toby Greene’s recent dip in form, Greater Western Sydney coach Adam Kingsley remains confident in his captain’s abilities and expects a resurgence when the Giants face the Western Bulldogs.
Critics have noted Greene’s reduced impact, as the star forward has acknowledged a drop in performance following a stellar season last year. With only 11 goals in eight games, Greene’s scoring rate is at its lowest since 2015, excluding the shortened 2020 season.
Kingsley believes Greene’s contributions extend beyond the scoreboard and feels that his impact is being underestimated. He emphasized that Greene is still crucial to the team’s success and predicted a swift return to form, possibly as soon as Saturday’s home game against the Bulldogs.
While acknowledging that certain aspects of Greene’s play are not at the same level as last year, Kingsley highlighted that Greene still excels in key areas such as possessions, inside-50s, ground balls, marks, score assists, and score involvements.
Meanwhile, Jesse Hogan has been a standout for the Giants this season, approaching his 150th AFL game with 26 goals in nine matches, and is a strong contender for the Coleman Medal. Kingsley praised Hogan’s on-field presence and off-field mentorship for the team’s young forwards, noting his significant influence and experience.
The Giants, with a 6-3 record, are looking to rebound from a recent slump, while anticipating a tough challenge from the Bulldogs (4-5) in their first home game at Engie Stadium in over two months.