Greater Western Sydney's stars will refuse to take a backward step against the Western Bulldogs but rising midfielder Tom Green says cooler heads will prevail in the next chapter of a heated rivalry.
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The Giants have won two on the bounce to reignite their AFL campaign after enduring their worst start to a season in eight years, but their biggest test awaits at Manuka Oval on Friday night in the form of a Bulldogs side which has conquered all before them.
The Giants' rivalry with the Sydney Swans was naturally their first to blossom given the lay of the land, but clashes with the Bulldogs seem to carry an extra sense of resentment.
Player movements, a finals classic and last year's melee that saw 15 players sanctioned by the league have all seen the rivalry take on a life of its own.
"Last year a bit of ill-discipline probably hurt us," Green said.
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"That'll be a real focus. You want to fly the flag, look after your teammates and whatnot, but you can't be doing stuff that is going to detract from us trying to win the game, which is the most important thing.
"We should be able to handle that stuff and keep our tempers in check."
The Giants enter the clash on the back of successive wins after a forgettable start to the season, which was compounded by the loss of key trio Stephen Coniglio, Phil Davis and Matt de Boer to injury.
They handed Sydney their first loss of the season in a two-point thriller last week and now a chance to shut down the Bulldogs would instil a belief within GWS' four walls that they "can beat anyone in the competition".
"It just lifts us again. We're playing more and more confidently, over the past two weeks we've got some favourable results and that's what we're always after," Green said.
"It gives a young group confidence, and a win over the Western Bulldogs would continue to enhance that. It would just show our group that when we tick off the things we need to tick off in terms of game plan and around the contest, we're as good as any team in the competition.
"The Western Bulldogs have got a really strong midfield. They've got a lot of guys who are in really good form. It probably starts at the centre bounce and at the coalface, and taking care of our business inside.
"From there we'll get our game plan going, and if we get that going, we can beat anyone in the competition.
"We were a really young group over the past couple of weeks, I think we were the youngest in the competition both weeks. Wins certainly give young groups like that confidence."
AFL ROUND SIX
Friday: GWS Giants v Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval, 7.50pm.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
