CHANNEL 7 has come under fire for its post-match coverage of GWS Giants’ qualifying final win over the Sydney Swans on Saturday afternoon.

In their fifth season, the Giants are playing finals footy for the first time, and their 91-55 victory over the Swans at ANZ Stadium in Homebush marked another chapter in their young history — their first finals win.

After a late season fade in 2015 saw them miss out on the top eight, the men from Sydney’s west have developed into genuine contenders for the flag this year — evidenced by the fact they managed to topple the minor premiers in their first appearance in September.

The Giants have copped flak from plenty of Victorian clubs this year over their preferential treatment when it comes to draft picks and the fact they have first crack at a lot of young talent, but there’s still enough goodwill for them from your average footy fan who wants to see the new kids on the block do well.

That explains why angry fans blasted Channel 7 for the decision not to show the Giants’ victory song in full on Saturday evening. As the match ran overtime, the network — which broadcast the final live — televised the opening to the song but then switched to its six o’clock news bulletin.

During the home-and-away season, broadcasters will nearly always keep the cameras running inside the victorious dressing room, but it wasn’t to be for the Giants.

Former Victorian cricketer Darren Berry labelled the move “disgraceful”.

Disgraceful CH 7 cut us off before the song for GWS big win to show us 2 dogs stuck in the floods on the bad news. #POOR — Darren Berry (@ChuckBerry1969) September 10, 2016

That's terrible form Channel 7 - cutting to the news halfway through GWS singing the song. Couldn't wait 30 seconds!? #AFLSwansGIANTS — Mitchell Scott (@WhippingBoySEN) September 10, 2016

I knew it was going to happen..5 seconds into the Giants song Channel 7 cuts straight to the news #typical #nosurprise #AFLSwansGIANTS — Reid Mahoney (@reid_mahoney) September 10, 2016

Cut away from the Giants song after their first ever finals win. Only 7. #AFLSwansGiants #aflfinals — David Zita 🌐 (@DavidZita1) September 10, 2016

Why did @7AFL just cut off the @GWSGIANTS song!? Surely they could have waited 30secs for song to end before going to news?? #AFLSwansGIANTS — Jeff Miles (@Jeffmister) September 10, 2016

@Channel7 @GWSGIANTS Just typical Of Channel 7 Perth. No WA sides playing & cut of early not being able to hear Giants song & post game wrap — Peter Chivers (@ChiversPeter) September 10, 2016

Hey channel 7 what happened the GWS song u clowns — Mark Malaspina (@HaydenEm2010) September 10, 2016

C'mon Channel 7, at least let GWS sing their entire song before cutting to the news #AFLSwansGIANTS — Sandru Anandaraj (@SandruAnandaraj) September 10, 2016

It’s not the first time Channel 7 has faced fans’ wrath for its AFL coverage this year. When Fremantle veteran Matthew Pavlich played his 350th AFL game in the Dockers’ 137-47 loss to the Swans in Perth earlier in the season, fans’ sadness soon turned to anger.

Channel 7’s broadcast of the game reportedly missed the scenes after the full-time siren of Pav getting chaired off the ground by his teammates through a guard of honour formed by both sides — their way of showing how much the 34-year-old is respected.

The “4 Freo Dockers Fans” Twitter account uploaded the moment so many fans missed.

Matthew Pavlich gets chaired off after his 350th AFL game pic.twitter.com/HjTLuO9vAE — 4 Freo Dockers Fans (@We_Bleed_Purple) July 31, 2016

That's ok didn't really want to see Pav get chaired off #AFLFreoSwans — Adam Curley (@AdamCurleyMedia) July 31, 2016

Wow. Channel 7 can't give a couple of minutes more to show Pavlich being cheered off for his 350th. #NobodyScrewFootballLike7 #AFLFreoSwans — Peter Phoebe (@EatDrinkCricket) July 31, 2016

I would have thought Channel Seven would have stuck around to show Pav getting chaired off despite the loss #disappointing — Micky T (@mikkithompson93) July 31, 2016

Typical Channel 7 rot post Freo v Syd for Pavlich in his 350..... Couldn't hold off for another minute to see him chaired off pathetic.... — Glenney (@glenneywilson) July 31, 2016

Every GWS player would have felt a range of emotions in the AFL club’s first final, but Lachie Whitfield could be excused for being more of a scatterbrain than his 15 teammates also making their finals debut on Saturday

Allegations Whitfield avoided drug testers in 2015 entered the public domain a fortnight ago.

But the headlines failed to impact the former No. 1 draft pick on Saturday, when he tallied a team-high 27 disposals and played a pivotal role in GWS’s 36-point win over their cross-city rivals.

“It’s been an interesting two weeks, especially for him,” Giants coach Leon Cameron said.

“Sometimes you look at players and think how have they gone? How’s their preparation been?

“His training has been absolutely phenomenal. Clearly he wasn’t affected by the situation that he’s been involved in.

“To be a really good contribution in a big final against a real physical side, it speaks volumes about Lachie and he’s a confident young kid.”

Selecting Whitfield was a simple decision for Cameron.

“I asked him on Thursday, ‘Are you ready to roll?’ He came back really quickly, ‘Nah I’ll be fine,’” he said.

Cameron also heaped praise on young forward Jeremy Cameron, who booted three goals in the space of five minutes to bust the game open.

“The moment came in the third quarter and he stood up and put a little gap for us,” he said.

“Not just set shots but the intercept mark.

“His defence has come along in leaps and bounds this year. He tackles well, he’s always been courageous and he hits hard.”

— with AAP