Fresh from the biggest win in their 92-game history, Greater Western Sydney loom as one of many finals contenders in 2016, perhaps for the first time since their inception for the 2012 season.

At 2-2, the Giants sit one game outside the eight in ninth, having gone loss-win-loss-win across the opening month of the season. A two-point loss to Melbourne in Round 1 wasn’t the start they were after, but two wins in Canberra - either side of the battle of the bridge loss - over Geelong (13-points) and Port Adelaide (86-points) has put Leon Cameron’s side back on track.

One man who will return to face St Kilda on Sunday after missing the opening month is Jeremy Cameron. The 2013 All Australian forward was suspended for the first four games of 2016 following a front on bump that left Brisbane’s Rhys Mathieson with a broken cheekbone.

With Cameron McCarthy absent from the game and their four-time leading goal kicker Cameron suspended, the Giants have coped inside 50, averaging 96.5 points for per game (ranked 8^th), courtesy of the arrival of triple Geelong premiership star Steve Johnson and the emergence of project tall Rory Lobb.

After staving off retirement at the end of last year, Johnson has already proven he has football left in the tank. The crafty forward has booted seven goals and is averaging 21.5 possessions and 5.3 inside 50s per game.

West Australian Lobb produced the finest performance of his 15-game career against the Power at Startrak Oval last Sunday, booting a career-high four goals as the focal point in attack alongside Jon Patton. The return of Cameron could result in more time in the ruck supporting Shane Mumford, but given his feats last week his best role might be in attack.

After being part of a remodelled leadership group this season, along with Mumford, former No. 1 pick Tom Scully is in career-best form. Across the opening month of 2016, the much maligned midfielder is averaging career-high numbers in possessions (27.3), marks (6.3) and inside 50s (5.0), as well as 560 metres gained (ranked 6^th in the competition). With his enormous aerobic tank, Scully appears to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the reduction in interchange rotations.

After missing the final seven games of 2015 due a knee injury, ball-magnet Dylan Shiel has returned to the blistering form he attained in the first-half of last season, averaging 28.8 possessions, 10.8 contested possessions, 5.8 clearances and 3.8 inside 50s across the first four games of 2016.

The explosive midfielder forms a vital part of one of the deepest midfield departments in the game, alongside co-captain Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield, Ryan Griffen, Josh Kelly and Scully, among others.

With a maiden finals date with September the carrot at the end of the season, the midfield forms the nucleus of the Giants’ success. Although, the back six has been rock solid in the opening month of the year. Co-captain Phil Davis is in career-best form, having already clamped Jesse Hogan (for three quarters) and Charlie Dixon, and halved an enthralling duel with Lance Franklin at the SCG.

Davis has led an imposing back six comprised of fellow experienced recruits Heath Shaw, Joel Patfull and Griffen, which has also generated plenty of run out of Nathan Wilson and Zac Williams.

Star:

Having recently inked a five-year contract extension with the club that prised him away from Western Bulldogs prior to their debut season, Callan Ward continues to play at an extremely high level on a weekly basis. The star midfielder has never finished off the podium in the Giants best and fairest and has started this season in form averaging 23.3 possessions, 13.3 contested possessions, 3.5 inside 50s and three tackles. His importance in Greater Western Sydney’s wins cannot be underestimated; Ward is a genuine star who can be underrated given the location of his football club.

Match up:

With nine goals in two games against St Kilda last year, Jeremy Cameron looms as a dangerous proposition that will have caused Alan Richardson to dedicate some time and energy into planning for him this week. The Giants spearhead booted five goals the last time the two sides met in Round 15, with four of his goals against Sam Gilbert. Sean Dempster spent 52 per cent of the game on Cameron, holding the All Australian to just one goal and four possessions in that time and could get the big job at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 

Team:

B: A. Kennedy, J. Patfull, M. Buntine
HB: N. Wilson, P. Davis, H. Shaw
C: T. Greene, D. Shiel, J. Kelly
HF: R. Griffen, R. Lobb, L. Whitfield
F: S. Johnson, J. Cameron, T. Scully
R: S. Mumford, J. Steele, C. Ward

Interchange from: R. Palmer, J. Hopper, N. Haynes, D. Smith, J. Patton, S. Coniglio, Z. Williams