GWS is making a habit of overturning large deficits to storm home to victory in front of the home crowd at Engie Stadium.
Sunday's eight-point win over Gold Coast was the latest instalment of the Giants' extraordinary turnaround, following on from the Round 12 stirring comeback against Richmond.
Adam Kingsley's men found themselves 29 points down late in the second term, and required an eight-goal surge in the final quarter to prevail in front of 10,504 adoring fans who witnessed arguably the best 'Expansion Cup' clash to date.
The last time the Giants stormed to victory against all odds was when club icon and legend Callan Ward tore his ACL, and delivered an inspiring speech at the final change.
"I didn't have Wardy this time, that was the only difference," Kingsley said.
"To be down at three-quarter time, our guys know that we've been able to do that in the past, and so we built great confidence out of being able to do it.
"But you've then got to go and do it against what was and is a really good team.
"That doesn't mean we always do it, and we're going to make mistakes, of course, but when we put it together, I think we're a pretty good team."
Have you won the Expansion Cup? pic.twitter.com/u56nIGRIzD
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) June 22, 2025
A big contributor to the club's stoic win was the contribution of the super sub Jake Stringer, who was activated a lot earlier than anticipated after Lachie Whitfield received a heavy hit from Ben King.
Stringer's impact was immediate, and from 55 per cent game time, in his first match since Round 9, his two goals, nine touches, and a goal assist proved to be the difference in the finals-type contest.
Fellow forward Aaron Cadman also received praise from his coach after slotting three majors in his 50th AFL game.
"Both those guys finished the work from the guys up the field, but it wasn't just the goals," Kingsley said.
JAKE STRINGER ๐คฏ#AFLGiantsSuns pic.twitter.com/KR40OHgpGU
— AFL (@AFL) June 22, 2025
"Aaron had some really important contests he needed to have, and he did that.
"I thought Jake had some really important decisions up the field that needed to be made.
"And certainly that last one, where he booted the ball deep inside-50 and it turned at right angles and rolled out of bounds for a stoppage, was an incredible decision to make."
After an early-season slump, the Giants have now won four of the past five clashes and sit percentage off Adelaide in fourth spot.
They will enter the mid-season bye with nine wins from 15 starts, and will return to take on West Coast at Optus Stadium.