"It's a big call," Matthew Lloyd said.
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"But this is one of the ugliest days in GWS' history. To be losing by almost nine goals is just one of the worst beatings they've had in the history of their club."
For a club that has now recorded 100 defeats in the AFL, the league great's scathing assessment on 3AW is saying something.
Perhaps it is because Greater Western Sydney recorded their lowest score in history on a horror night against the Hawthorn Hawks that saw their top four hopes take a major blow.
Perhaps it is because the return of Coleman Medal front-runner Jeremy Cameron was made to look like a mere side note against a side whose finals aspirations are almost non-existent.
Regardless, the Giants' 13.7 (85) to 4.5 (29) defeat at the hands of the Hawthorn Hawks on a snowy night at Manuka Oval on Friday is one to forget.
GWS were held to their lowest score ever as they failed to score a goal in the second half, falling short of the paltry 31 they posted against Hawthorn in 2012.
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"We are embarrassed, let's be honest," Giants coach Leon Cameron said.
"That was probably one of our worst losses for a long time. We need to put our hand up and take responsibility for that.
"The biggest indicator was we got touched up around on the footy. We were behind the eight ball for most of the night. Smashed around clearance, smashed around contest.
"Embarrassing is a pretty harsh word, but really, we have to put up our hand because it was one of our worst losses for a long time.
"We're not going to run away from it. There's always a solution. Everyone is going to be disappointed. Our players have got to accept that, I as coach and our coaching staff need to accept that."
Hawthorn's James Worpel put in an effort worthy of the lead role against a GWS outfit missing Cameron's two chief offsiders in Harry Himmelberg (calf) and Jeremy Finlayson (hamstring).
Truth be told, the actual game resembled little more than a side note when snow began to fall during the opening quarter.
The Hawks had already booted the opening three goals of the term - a feat they would replicate in every quarter to set up the thumping victory.
The Giants would soon fall to their second loss in Canberra this season - the club's worst return in the capital since 2014.
The rear view mirror has long held exclusive rights to that era. That said, the one that brought up the century was one to forget in the eyes of many of the 11,741 hearty souls in the stands.
A loss to an outfit whose slim finals aspirations have only the slightest of pulses doesn't make for pretty reading, but it is not necessarily reason to hit the panic button.
Jacob Hopper's late withdrawal due to a hamstring injury handed a debut to Jye Caldwell but robbed the Giants of another midfielder.
It was a cruel hand to be dealt given key players Josh Kelly (calf) and Matt de Boer (shoulder) had already been left behind.
The pair look set to return next week alongside Himmelberg, but Hopper and Finlayson may be another week away.
Even so, it was far from ideal for a squad missing Stephen Coniglio and Callan Ward - and one carrying two ruckmen in a move that drew the ire of Australian rules great Mick Malthouse.
Key Hawk Jack Gunston was also left hamstrung and replaced by Conor Nash in Hawthorn's match day 22.
He made the most of his chance with an early goal as the Hawks defied the freezing temperatures to come out firing - the temperature at the opening bounce was three degrees, but felt like minus three.
Even so, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson held firm on his "no short-sleeved jumpers" policy. He even donned shorts on his way out to the quarter-time huddle in the most rousing display of bravado since Adelaide's infamous power stance throughout the 2017 finals series.
As for how the Hawks have managed to stifle a star-studded outfit in consecutive matches?
"GWS has troubled us in the past, it's not like all of a sudden we have come up with a magic formula. Maybe it's just coincidence," Clarkson said.
"We were able to win the midfield battle and keep the game in our half of the ground. That's the most important thing against them. We won the clearances and got the game played in our half.
"All we can do is take it week by week [with an eye on the finals]. It's a long game for us. That's why we're playing these young fellas.
"We've been able to play some good football in September before but that was a fair while ago now. We need to build the group of players and method with which to try and get there again.
"At the minute, we're sitting where we are on the ladder for a reason, because we're just a mid-table side."
Be that as it may, the Giants leave Canberra with their hopes of winning four games on the trot for the first time this season dashed.
If they are to do it from here, they are guaranteed a preliminary final appearance. It looms as a Giant ask.
AT A GLANCE
GWS GIANTS 2.1 4.1 4.2 4.5 (29)
HAWTHORN HAWKS 3.1 6.2 10.5 13.7 (85)
Best: GWS: Toby Greene, Tim Taranto, Zac Williams, Nick Haynes, Brent Daniels. Hawthorn: James Worpel, James Sicily, Isaac Smith, Liam Shiels, Chad Wingard
Goals: GWS: Adam Kennedy, Jackson Hately, Jeremy Cameron, Brett Deledio. Hawthorn: Tim O'Brien 2, Paul Puopolo 2, Luke Breust 2, Mitchell Lewis 2, Conor Nash, Isaac Smith, Chad Wingard, Ricky Henderson, Tom Scully