Stephen Coniglio – 9
The classy midfielder racked up big numbers (35 touches and eight clearances) and his influence was just as pronounced. Ran hard to create the play for his team, won the footy in tight and put enormous pressure on the opposition. He had plenty of competition for the title, but was probably the Giants' best player. 

Aidan Corr – 7
Spent the majority of his time on Eagles spearhead Josh Kennedy. Gave away what appeared to be a dubious free kick early in the first term that gifted the West Coast star an easy goal, but fought back well to keep the All Australian full forward to just one major for the game.

Full match coverage and stats

Phil Davis – 5
As is typical, the key defender did not accumulate much of the footy. But Davis' ability, on a number of occasions, to get across and kill the contest with an effective spoil over the top of Kennedy and Jack Darling was crucial.           

Matt de Boer – 4
The former Docker got on the end of a chain of possession to walk into an open goal in the second term. Brought into the side last week for his forward pressure, de Boer fulfilled those duties against the Eagles.      

Brett Deledio – 5
Swung into defence after having little influence against the Crows last week. Looked a lot more comfortable and got into the game Snuck forward to kick a well-taken running goal in the third term as the floodgates opened. A preliminary final meeting against his former side Richmond awaits.       

Five things we learned from the first semi-final, GWS v West Coast

Toby Greene – 8
The star Giant was the gamebreaker early, booting three goals in the opening half. His first came from a clever right foot snap and he followed up with a floating hanger late in the second term to equal his career-best goal haul in finals. Love him or hate him, Greene has an uncanny ability to seize the moment and deliver when his team needs him most.       

Nick Haynes –  5
Haynes is one of the AFL's best intercept players and he did not disappoint in that area against the Eagles. Sent a scare through the Giants' camp when he went down clutching his right knee in a marking contest late in the game, but he returned to the field of play without any issues.      

Thankfully this incident wasn't as serious as it first looked for Nick Haynes. Picture: AFL Photos

Harrison Himmelberg – 4
The young forward was charged with the responsibility of keeping star Eagle Jeremy McGovern occupied. Himmelberg booted a key goal in the second term as McGovern chose to sag off him. Ended the night with nine disposals and continued to gain valuable finals experience.       

Jacob Hopper – 5
The hard-nosed youngster did some nice things in a midfield that was dominant. With the quality around him, Hopper does not have to do anything extraordinary and he played his role to a 'T' against the Eagles. A brilliant intercept on the wing in the third term, where he willed himself onto the ball, was the highlight of his night. 

Steve Johnson – 8
Returned to the side after being left out of the Giant's first final and bounced back in fine style. Reignited the 'Stevie J show' by booting four goals, all in the third term, to help split the game open. Added two in the fourth quarter to finish his night with six goals. Ended the game with his head bandaged, but his pride well and truly restored.      

Steve Johnson has got his fingerprints all over this third quarter! #AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/edXD3tG6FQ

Josh Kelly – 8
The young star was part of a dominant midfield that ran their Eagles' counterparts into the ground. The longer the game went the better Kelly got as the Eagles struggled to contain his running ability. Continued his strong form with 33 disposals and eight tackles.              

Rory Lobb – 7
The athletic big man stood up in the absence of Shane Mumford and helped give the Giants' midfield first use more often than not. It could be argued that Lobb's versatility actually made the Giants a little more balanced across the field, particularly with Mumford's fitness issues late in the season.             

Jonathon Patton – 7
Wayward early in the game and had two relatively elementary misses. But the key forward took a huge contested mark early in the third and got on the board with a well thought out set shot from a tricky angle. Crucial to his side's September hopes with Jeremy Cameron gone for the year.  

Tom Scully – 6
Scully can cover the ground like few can and again his elite endurance was on display against the Eagles. A brilliant chase-down tackle on Matt Priddis in the first quarter set the tone for the side. The hard-running onballer finished with 20 disposals and a classy left foot goal around the corner in the first term.              

Heath Shaw – 6
Was typically antagonistic, getting in Jamie Cripps' face from the get go. No surprise to see the veteran defender right in the thick of the action when a mini-melee broke out at half-time as well. Doesn't rack up a high volume of possessions these days but did a good defensive job on Cripps.     

Dylan Shiel – 7
Kicked the first goal of the game with a beautiful finish off one step to ignite the Giants. Shook off the dogged Mark Hutchings tag to collect 25 disposals, six clearances and six inside 50s. The smooth-mover was another Giant to get off the chain. 

Tim Taranto – 5
The youngster had not played since round 14 after a long-term ankle injury. But with Jeremy Cameron going out of the team, Taranto's selection signalled the Giants' desire to go with a smaller lineup and run an older Eagles team into the ground. A crafty goal off the outside of his right boot was a nice filip.       

Adam Tomlinson – 7
Tomlinson had the job to negate Jack Darling and he did it exceptionally well. Darling booted just one goal and Tomlinson's body work in marking contests prevented him from having any real impact. An outstanding spoil to prevent a certain Jamie Cripps goal in the second quarter was akin to Geelong's Tom Stewart's gut-busting effort from Friday night. 

Callan Ward – 7
The co-captain was typically determined all night and ended it with  28 disposals at 85.7 per cent efficiency. With Kelly and Shiel regularly getting out into open space, Ward's ability to win the ball in tight was again an essential part of the win.        

Lachie Whitfield – 8
The hard-running midfielder had 11 first quarter possessions to signal his intent. Copped a heavy hit off the ball in the second term that left him seeing stars. But his aerobic power came to the fore after the main break, covering the most distance of any player on the ground. Re-signed with the club for a further two seasons during the week and backed it up with 28 disposals and 11 marks in an excellent display against the Eagles. 

Lachie Whitfield was dazed after an errant elbow from Drew Petrie. Picture: AFL Photos

Zac Williams – 5
A subdued effort from the underrated defender. Just seven disposals in the first half and ended with 14 at the final siren. Will need to step up big time next week with a likely role on one of Richmond's dangerous fleet of small forwards.       

Nathan Wilson – 7
The speedy defender provided significant rebound from the back half and his long-kicking, to carry the lines, was a feature of a number of GWS' attacking forays. His kick to Harry Himmelberg – a bullet that travelled 45m – in the second quarter was brilliant.