‘He’s doing nothing’: Lachie Whitfield’s dismal form is slammed as Giants tumble down the ladder – with St Kilda clash already crucial to coach Leon Cameron’s future, says David King
- Lachie Whitfield has endured a terrible run of form so far this season
- His figures are below career average in terms of marks, clearances and tackles
- Giants are 1-4 and face in-form St Kilda on Friday night in Canberra
- GWS has put negotiations over a new contract for Leon Cameron on hold
Lachie Whitfield’s dismal run of form for GWS sums up the current state of the Giants as a football club, according to former St Kilda great Leigh Montagna.
The Giants have won just one of their five games this season and take on the in-form Saints, who have won four in a row, on Friday night in Canberra.
Whitfield’s figures this season are below his career average in terms of marks, clearances, handballs and tackles. More worryingly, of his 18 inside 50s kicks, only three have found their target.
Lachie Whitfield has endured a dismal run of form for GWS so far this season
‘He’s a bit symptomatic of this club a little bit. He’s just floating. He’s doing nothing,’ Montagna told Fox Footy’s First Crack.
‘He’s the 46th rated defender in the competition as a general defender, he’s averaging two intercept possessions a game as a halfback, less than five contested possessions, he hasn’t had a shot at goal.
‘What’s happened to Lachie Whitfield’s run and his ball use and that piercing play?’
The Giants lost by 67 points on Melbourne on Saturday, with the shellacking against the reigning premiers coming a week after they lost by 34 against Fremantle.
The star midfielder’s figures this season are below his career average in terms of marks, clearances, handballs and tackles
GWS have scored over 90 points just once this season and former North Melbourne great David King believes a loss to the Saints could be the beginning of the end for Leon Cameron.
The 49-year-old has been in charge of the Giants since 2014 but he’s out of contract at the end of the season and the club have put talks over an extension on hold.
Coupled with GWS’s struggles, that is an ominous sign for King.
GWS coach Leon Cameron is under pressure after the Giants lost four of their first five games
‘When you’re out of contract and the club puts the discussion on hold until the end of the year […] you need something to turn, you need to show that you‘ve got the answers and you’ve got the vision to go forward,’ he said.
‘You can’t be going 1-5. They have to keep this year alive as long as possible for Leon to stay alive as a coaching option for 2023.’
Cameron has led the Giants to two preliminary finals, two semi-finals and a Grand Final in the past six years, but King suggested those achievements will count for nothing if he can’t turn his team’s fortunes around.
The Giants take on the in-form Saints in Canberra on Friday night
‘If they go 1-5, you start the long goodbye and that’s an awful situation, no one wants that at all,’ he added.
‘We love Leon, he’s been great for that football club, but nine years, you can’t be dropping off the cliff at this stage of the season.
‘They’ve got to fight.’
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