Adam Kingsley addresses his players during Greater Western Sydney's clash against Essendon in round 19, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

GREATER Western Sydney coach Adam Kingsley keeps searching for answers but concedes Giants staff are unable to pinpoint the "mental block" in the club's wildly inconsistent season.

After toppling rampaging ladder leader Fremantle and last year's grand finalist Geelong in the previous fortnight, GWS suffered an unfathomable three-point upset loss to Essendon on Sunday.

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The Bombers had won just one of their past 30 games and came in off a 90-point belting from Brisbane, who the Giants destroyed with a record 14-goal third quarter in May.

Finalist the past three seasons, GWS is in danger of not even qualifying for the wildcard round due to its habit of dropping games it should win.

As well as the Bombers, GWS has lost this season to West Coast, Carlton and St Kilda (twice).

"It must be some sort of mental block there that we haven't put our finger on yet and been able to solve," Kingsley said.

06:54

Full post-match, R19: Giants

Watch GWS’s press conference after round 19’s match against Essendon

"That's all of us, we haven't managed to fix that.

"Until we do, we're not going to become the team that we want to become, and we've got plenty of work to do in that space.

"We've got sports psychologists at the club provided to us to be able to tap into. 

"We've got the resources there, we've just got to do a better job, plain and simple."

03:15

Last two mins: Bombers hold nerve over Giants in upset of the season

Bombers fans, enjoy the last two minutes of the famous win over GWS in R19, 2026

In an added blow for the Giants, captain Toby Greene suffered a quad injury that will be scanned on Monday.

Finishing the match with ice on his quad, Greene will miss at least next Saturday's Sydney Derby.

"He lunged for a tackle and just felt his quad," Kingsley said of Greene.

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"I don't know any timelines on that at all, but we're on a six-day break into the Swans so – a big match – and he won't be available for that."

GWS sits 11th, but would have jumped ahead of the Saints into 10th – the wildcard zone – had it taken care of Essendon.

08:12

Highlights: Essendon v GWS

The Bombers and Giants clash in round 19 of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

Bombers interim coach Dean Solomon described the upset as a "bloody good feeling".

It was Essendon's first win since beating Melbourne in Gather Round in Adelaide on April 11, while it hadn't won a game in Victoria since May 23, 2025.

"It's a bloody good feeling," Solomon said.

09:59

Full post-match, R19: Bombers

Watch Essendon’s press conference after round 19’s match against GWS

"Our footy club's been on its knees for a period of time, and the footy world's jumped on that, and they enjoy us sitting at the bottom.

"We've felt that, and we don't like that, so to push back a little bit and get one win, albeit one win, I'm just really happy for these players."