‘Unacceptable’ cop out proves Giant blunder

There were concerns the 34-year-old’s ageing legs weren’t up to carrying out the forward pressure needed to win footy games in September. As Thursday showed, it was a concern that extended beyond just one player.

North Melbourne premiership hero David King whacked Brett Deledio — who only played his first game of the year in Round 20 after injury prevented him from getting on the park earlier — for a lack of effort that resembled the very problem the Giants were hoping to avoid by excluding Johnson.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s On The Couch, King analysed footage from the opening minutes of the game (which you can see in the video player above) that showed Deledio failing to keep up with direct opponent Rory Atkins, allowing the Crows midfielder to surge forward and set up a scoring opportunity.

“What was Stevie J dropped for? Why was he not selected in last week’s side? Pace and defensive pressure,” King said.

“Two-and-a-half minutes into the first quarter, scores are 0-0, this is the absolute start of the game. Brett Deledio on Rory Atkins.

“The ball spills — you’d expect a good fight here — forward pressure not their strength.”

The footage shows Deledio barely jogging after Atkins, making no effort to apply pressure as he kicked to a teammate in space.

“That is unacceptable and that is the reason why they find themselves now having to repeat,” King said.

“A horrible way to start the game. They’ve got awful problems with their forward six.”

Host Gerard Healy said the vision was “extraordinary” while three-time Brisbane Lions premiership winner Jonathan Brown was scathing of the entire team’s lack of intensity.

“That was a lack of effort to start the game wasn’t it. That’s got nothing to do with leg speed,” Brown said.

“That was a common theme throughout all the Giants players, especially early in the game. It just looked like the effort wasn’t there.

“Now whether they were spooked by the occasion or not … geez they were off.”

North Melbourne great Denis Pagan says it’s time for some tough love in Sydney’s west.

The two-time Kangaroos premiership coach savaged the Giants after their loss to Adelaide, saying their attitude smacked of arrogance.

“GWS appear arrogant to me — they haven’t fired a shot in AFL football, they argue constantly among themselves, with the opposition and frequently dispute the umpire’s decisions,” Pagan said.

“Sensitive, new age coaching hasn’t worked with this team, time for some tough love coaching now, it is not a popularity contest, it is about respect and winning.

“I was amazed to see the coach (Leon Cameron) patting the players on the back after the game.”

GWS’s hopes of winning a maiden flag were dealt a further blow when it was confirmed key forward Jeremy Cameron and imposing ruckman Shane Mumford will play no further part in the season.

Cameron suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday while Mumford fractured his foot. The pair will be sorely missed in Saturday’s semi-final against West Coast at Spotless Stadium but also the preliminary final and grand final, should GWS progress that far.

Mumford is regularly referred to as the Giants’ barometer by teammates because of his attack on the ball. Cameron is arguably their most talented forward, who starred in the only finals win of the expansion club’s short existence.

Dawson Simpson, essentially signed by the club in 2015 as a Mumford insurance policy, will almost certainly play his first final of a career that has spanned two clubs, 30 games and 10 seasons.

“Dawson came in and played a couple of games for us this year and played a really good role for us, so I’ve got full confidence in Dawson,” GWS co-captain Callan Ward said on Monday.

Simpson was named first ruck in the NEAFL team of the year, while standing at 210cm and 109kgs he boasts a similar frame to Mumford.

There is no like-for-like replacement for Cameron but Johnson, Devon Smith, Tim Taranto, Ryan Griffen and Will Setterfield headline the list of Giants in the mix for a recall.

“I’ve got full confidence in whoever comes in,” Ward told reporters. “Even in the second half (against Adelaide), I thought we played some really good footy and Jez wasn’t there.”

— with AAP