AFL: Jesse Hogan believes greater consistency is all that’s stopping GWS Giants from challenging the AFL’s best

Greater Western Sydney’s improved form in recent weeks has fuelled forward Jesse Hogan’s belief the Giants can still challenge the AFL’s best teams. Under caretaker coach Mark McVeigh, GWS has thrashed bottom sides West Coast and North Melbourne and taken it up to top-eight teams Brisbane (14 points), Western Bulldogs (20) and Collingwood (11). Hogan said greater in-game consistency was the next step for the Giants, who have won only four of their 14 matches, after starting and finishing well against the Magpies. “We just had to review that middle section of the game and, to be fair, Collingwood is a really good outfit and they performed really well, so it’s a credit to them,” he said. “But we’ll review that, then move on pretty quickly to Hawthorn and hopefully can bounce back and get the four points. “We’ve been playing some good football, so if we can play four quarters, I think we can almost beat anyone in the competition. That’ll probably be our biggest focus going into the Hawks this week.” Hogan kicked a season-high four goals in the narrow Magpies defeat – giving him 20 in 11 games – and feels physically superior to this time last season in a positive for him and GWS. “We’ve got a bit of continuity in our forward line. Toby (Greene)’s been back for a while and (Jake) Riccardi is playing good football and we’ve got a few others coming through there,” he said. “It was nice to be on the end of a few but disappointing we couldn’t get the win. “We went through a few issues with my calves and various other little niggles (last season), so this year has been really good. “I’ve been working really closely with the medical staff and we’re really confident I can get through this last block of the year and play some really solid football.” Jacob Hopper, who joined Hogan for a football clinic at Toongabbie East Primary School on Tuesday, is also nearing his return after undergoing multiple knee surgeries since the end of last season. The star midfielder could play in the VFL as soon as this weekend. “The body’s feeling good,” Hopper said. “It’s been a while, unfortunately, but that’s just footy sometimes. I’m feeling good and will hopefully get a run around soon and get my hands on the pill again, which would be nice.”