SEPTEMBER folklore is dominated by tall tales of big men.

The key forwards kicking bags of goals, finals-saving marks taken by defenders and ruckmen who only seem to dominate when the weather turns. 

But if there was one thing that could be taken from Greater Western Sydney's pulsating semi-final win over Brisbane, it's that old adage: it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog. 

Toby Greene and Luke Hodge get acquainted on Saturday night. Picture: AFL Photos

It was all about the little men on Saturday night at the Gabba. 

And second-year Giant Brent Daniels was the most unlikely of heroes.

The diminutive forward is the AFL's second-shortest player, behind Bulldog Caleb Daniel, at just 170cm. He isn't well-known outside the GWS walls or the most dedicated of football fans. 

But he was the right man to pounce on one of just a handful of opportunities the Giants had in the final term to pinch the lead.

With pace to spare, Daniels followed the advice of junior coaches nationwide by keeping the ball in front of him, before burning off classy defender Alex Witherden and snapping the winning goal. 

"I rolled the dice a little bit, I went skinny [side of the ground] and luckily enough 'Jezza' (Cameron) [knocked] it off to that side and I got onto it, but I was thinking, 'just put it through,'," Daniels told Channel Seven just after the final siren. 

"I've missed a few 'droppies' (drop punts) this year, so I went with the 'checky' (checkside), but it's just a great feeling."

LIONS v GIANTS Full match coverage and stats

Earlier, Charlie Cameron was the small who dominated the early stages of the game. 

The newly minted Virgin Australia AFL All Australian was under the pump, having been held to just seven disposals and a goal by Richmond's Dylan Grimes the week before. 

The last thing he wanted was a painful, wince-worthy injury to his right elbow in the opening minutes of Saturday night's match. 

Attempting to tackle a Giants opponent, Cameron's arm was accidentally bent backwards by teammate Lachie Neale. It's probably not one to watch if body parts moving in unnatural directions make you squeamish. 

The Brisbane medical staff were desperate to get their most electric forward back in the game, strapping him up and sending him back out again. 

And what a return it was. 

Looking tentative early, swinging only his good arm whenever he ran, Cameron was slammed into the turf over the boundary line (legally) by Aidan Corr after taking a chest mark inside 50 and bellowed in pain.

Composing himself, Cameron slotted the banana shot and turned to the crowd, twirling his fingers and thumping his chest.

It was Brisbane's third goal in a row after the Giants had kicked the opening four and rocketed the home side back into the game.

Cameron kept charging out of the forward 50, providing a target for the Brisbane midfielders out of the centre, and kicked a stunning goal from outside the arc, cutting the margin to just five towards the end of the third. 

Adam Kennedy (who is quite the story himself after being sent to hospital with an elevated heart-rate mid-season) played a close-checking game, warned by umpire Shaun Ryan to stop pulling at Cameron's damaged elbow. 

Whether or not it was in the "spirit of the game", as declared by Ryan, will be a water-cooler debate for days to come.

Brisbane itself employed nagging tactics, with wild-man Nick Robertson (an inclusion for the hamstrung and similarly manic Mitch Robinson) wearing Lachie Whitfield (13 disposals) like a wetsuit.

And let's not forget about the at-times overly aggressive little men. 

Lions fans booed themselves hoarse given the number of times Toby Greene got the ball (30), with the serial pest locked in an entertaining battle with wily veteran Luke Hodge. 

Greene will likely come under further scrutiny for an incident involving Lachie Neale, appearing to make contact the star Lion's face when he was at the bottom of a pack. 

Dayne Zorko – another who's not afraid of stirring up some trouble – must have thought all his Christmases had come at once when he lined Greene up in a tackle, dumping him to the ground.

The Brisbane skipper was instrumental in nearly dragging Brisbane over the line in the last quarter, showing his customary zip and dancing feet while others tired around him. 

Dayne Zorko takes it up to Aidan Corr on Saturday night. Picture: AFL Photos

The above players are already well-known for their feats across seasons past. 

But it will be Daniels – the smallest of them all – who etches his name in September stories for years to come.