The Bulldogs responded by luring the Giants' number-one draft pick, first-year key forward Tom Boyd, on a 7-year deal worth $7 million.

Three minutes into the third quarter, Rory Lobb kicked a goal for the Giants to bring the margin back to one point, before a rushed behind brought the scores level at 41.

Shortly after, Patton would kick a goal for the Giants and, with less than five minutes remaining, scores were tied at 82 points apiece.

In round 21, 2017, Giants small forward Toby Greene collected Bulldog Luke Dahlhaus in the face with his foot while flying for a mark.

[9] They faced each other in a fierce and at times violent contest in the second elimination final, Greater Western Sydney winning by 58 points to progress to a semi-final and end the Bulldogs' season.

A host of Bulldogs, including Patrick Lipinski and teenagers Rhylee West and Bailey Smith, were in the vicinity when Greene grabbed at Bontempelli's face and then pulled his hair while at the bottom of a pack.

[11] The bad blood from the elimination final persisted into round 3 of the 2020 AFL Season[12][13][14] where The Giants turned sent Nick Haynes out for the coin toss instead of captain Stephen Coniglio to meet with Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli, who fractured Haynes’ larynx the previous year.