Matt Buntine – 6
Spent most of the match on the last line, marking Jordan De Goey, and for a lot of the match the Pie was forced to the flanks to mark the football. Buntine stood up particularly well in a couple of one-on-one contests against De Goey in the third and fourth quarters. The star Magpie broke loose late though. 

Jeremy Cameron – 6
Was quiet early with Tyson Goldsack keeping him to five disposals in the first half. Cameron was pushed up the ground later and became more threatening, finishing with 15 disposals and nine marks, including four contested. Damning was the 1.3, although none of his misses were easy chances. The goal he kicked was impressive, brushing off a Steele Sidebottom tackle and snapping it through on his right. 

Stephen Coniglio – 9
If he was underrated before Saturday, he couldn't be anymore. Coniglio was outstanding all over the ground. A big early tackle on De Goey when the Pies had all the momentum was critical, a left foot snap to Harry Himmelberg to create a goal was important and his set shot from the boundary line early in the third term to see the Giants draw level was immense.

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Phil Davis – 7
Given the job on Mason Cox. An early right shoulder injury took Davis off the ground for a short period but he returned and kept the American to three marks. A desperate tackle on Will Hoskin-Elliott was brilliant. 

Matt de Boer – 3
Largely ineffective, although his left foot snapped goal in the final term gave the Giants a sniff. 

Brett Deledio – 7
Injuries have cursed the former Tiger in recent times but he was great, particularly in the opening half. Rolling across half-forward and on a wing, Deledio won plenty of football inside the contest as well. 

Toby Greene – 3
Blanketed by Brayden Maynard completely after a dominant elimination final outing in last week's win over Sydney. Slipping over early and allowing Maynard an easy mark was an indication of how his night would go, while a right ankle concern might have hampered the potential match-winner. 

Ryan Griffen – 3
In what turned out to be the final game of Griffen's career, he was relatively quiet on return from a hamstring injury. Soccering it through early in the second quarter for his side's first goal was very important though. 

Nick Haynes – 5
Spent time on Jaidyn Stephenson and Travis Varcoe, both of whom were quiet, while Haynes manned Jordan De Goey for a short period in the final term. An obvious hold on De Goey cost his side a goal though. 

Harry Himmelberg – 4
Quiet in attack. Had a shocking moment slipping over in the middle when the Giants had a three-on-one, throwing it and giving away a free kick. Himmelberg took a nice mark against Tyson Goldsack in the second term from a Stephen Coniglio kick, and slotted the goal to bring the margin back to six, but missed a much-needed goal in the final term.

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Jacob Hopper – 7
Didn't do much in the opening term and was one of many Giants who kicked aimlessly in that period, but lifted from there and made his impact felt inside the contest. 

Jacob Hopper played a strong game. Picture: AFL Photos

Lachie Keeffe – 5
Played down back against Brody Mihocek and did well enough. Had a couple of bad moments though, including slinging Mihocek when the Pie didn't have the football to give away a free kick. 

Adam Kennedy – 4
Rolled through a variety of opponents including Josh Thomas, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Chris Mayne. Lost his head when running out of defence in the second term, torping it to a cluster of Magpies. 

Zac Langdon – 4
Played more on a wing rather than up forward and didn't have a huge impact, although his goal from 50m brought the margin back to two points in the third quarter and was big. 

Rory Lobb – 5
The enigmatic tall did enough in the ruck duels against Brodie Grundy. Lobb kicked a shocker out of defence early in the game, but a huge pack mark late in the second term and the resultant goal saw the Giants trail by just a point. 

Sam Reid – 5
Tough and hard as always, but had a bad moment when he tried to blast it out of defence and found Mayne.

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Dylan Shiel – 6
Improved in the second term after the Pies dominated the midfield battle in the opening quarter. His kicking was scrappy at times but Shiel showed his explosiveness and ability to burst through tackles. 

Dylan Shiel was good, but was it his last game for the Giants? Picture: AFL Photos

Tim Taranto – 6
In the absence of Josh Kelly (right knee), Taranto spent the match in the midfield. Finished with 17 disposals and had just one in the opening term, when the Pies were all over GWS. 

Adam Tomlinson – 5
Helped Lobb in the ruck and the idea was for Tomlinson to use his running to exploit Grundy around the ground. The Giant finished with nine disposals, so it didn't quiet work to plan, but he did some nice work in the contest. 

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Callan Ward – 5
It's not often the co-captain has a quiet one, but he was disappointing in a huge clash. Finished with 18 disposals, but was nowhere early when the Pies started on fire. Had a shocking turnover on a wing to a bevy of Magpies. 

Lachie Whitfield – 8
Spent time down back and in the midfield, racking up 31 disposals and 12 contested possessions in a great display. A bad turnover in the middle of the ground found Mason Cox, setting up a goal for Collingwood, but Whitfield was otherwise very good. 

The big stage saw a big game from Lachie Whitfield. Picture: AFL Photos

Zac Williams – 5
Had a nightmare kick-in that went straight to Will Hoskin-Elliott in the opening term, and then conceded a free to the former Giant at the top of the goalsquare right before the first break. In fairness, there wasn't much in that one, and Williams improved from there.