Sport
10 August, 2026
Giants reach the summit
Players and supporters alike were thrilled last Sunday, August 9, when, for the first time in the club’s history, the Grampians Giants secured a resounding grand final victory.
Playing at Horsham City Oval, the Giants defeated Warrnambool 13-11-89 to 1-5-11 to claim their first-ever premiership.
The Giants’ success has been a long time in the making, making the victory all the sweeter given the challenges the team faced during its early development.
Despite their determination and enthusiasm, the Giants remained winless for many years, with their fortunes only beginning to change over the past two seasons as they finally enjoyed victories on the scoreboard.
In the grand final, the Giants shared the goals around, with Lachlan Lee leading the way with four majors.
Charlie Blake added three, Fred Knowles kicked two, while Ben Smith, Sky Ralph, Dan Quixley and Nathan Elford each contributed one.
Lee was named Man of the Match, while the Giants’ best players included Charlie Blake, Dan Quixley, Lee Catalantog, Lachlan Lee, Fred Knowles, Nathan Elford, Luke Byrne, Ben Smith and Sky Ralph.
Coach Gary Ryan and assistant coach Tim Miller were delighted with the team’s performance.
“It was a fantastic effort after eleven years to win our first ever premiership and all players played their roles to perfection," Ryan said.
"Once the Giants got rolling, they never looked back and continued to play the game their way, which resulted in a huge win. This win saw them crowned not only premiers, but champions as well.
"During season 2026, they remained undefeated, and the bond they have now built up will remain with them forever.
"The unforgettable scenes after the final siren showed how much this meant to everybody. The coaching and support staff were so relieved after chasing this dream for so long.
"It just shows that perseverance, mateship, and compassion, when all combined, can achieve anything if you want it badly enough.”
