Markets 
Sebastian Tan
GWS ended Fremantle’s record-winning run in commanding fashion on Saturday, with Jake Stringer slotting a career-high seven goals to power the Giants to a 21-point upset victory in Canberra.
After going into Saturday’s clash flying high on a 14-game winning streak, the Dockers’ (14-2) hopes of eclipsing Essendon’s historic 20-game run, achieved in 2000, were dashed.
Freo won’t just count the cost of the 16.13 (109) to 13.10 (88) defeat as midfielder Hayden Young sustained a groin injury in the second half at Manuka Oval.
It follows a spate of injuries for the 25-year-old over the last 18 months, and his loss would be another blow for the ladder leaders’ minor premiership hopes ahead of a crucial clash against the second-placed Sydney Swans next Thursday.
“We think it’s just a bit of a tight groin, so we’re hoping he’s right,” Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said.
“This is what happens when you miss a lot of footy … It can be after three or four (weeks) and something else bobs up, so hopefully it’s not bad.”
Longmuir lamented his team’s “off” work rate as the Giants dominated the clearance count 42 to 28 and played aggressively in their front half.
“It was not us, it hasn’t been us,” the coach said.
“I thought we lacked strength in the contest, to hang on to the ball, test to tackle, all things we’ve been pretty good at all year.”
Having lost three straight going into the clash, GWS (7-9) needed a response to keep themselves in the finals race and off-contract Toby Greene delivered, manufacturing a masterclass with 27 disposals and three majors.
Key forward Stringer was also hot in front of goal, while defender Connor Idun excelled with 26 disposals and 12 marks.
Adam Kingsley had high praise for his Giants’ midfield after they made up for the loss of star Lachie Whitfield, who suffered a concussion in the second term.
Victory also comes after the coach declared that “no one will give us a chance to beat them (Fremantle)” earlier in the week, considering GWS’s injury list has ballooned to a mammoth 15 players.
“This group’s good enough. We proved that by just knocking off the best team,” Kingsley said.
“I thought we played a game that we’ve been hoping and aspiring to play for a long period of time.”
It wasn’t a smooth sailing victory for GWS though, as both teams went tit for tat in the first quarter, but the Giants’ defence kept the Dockers’ star-studded attack at bay from the second period onwards.
A flurry of majors towards the end of the third period laid the platform for the home team’s victory, and they kept their composure in the last term to secure the four points.
For Fremantle, defender Karl Worner continued his glittering form, registering 29 disposals, while midfielder Caleb Serong notched 31.
AAP
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