Dale Tapping said the Lions first victory over GWS GIANTS since 2014 was down to the pressure set by the Lions’ forwards and midfielders.

Tapping told lions.com.au. a strong start was critical to victory.

“They’re a highly skilled, really efficient team so we had to be somewhere near our best and yeah our boys were terrific. We had a really good start and it went from there,” he said.

Tapping said the pressure set by the forwards and midfielders disrupted the GIANTS style of play, with the Lions able to dictate how the game was played.

“I think what sets that is our pressure from our forwards and our mids. So any ball that went in, it was under pressure, it wasn’t that sort of free-flowing GWS style that we see,” he said.

“It was always a pressured ball. It gives your back six a chance. Because they set up so well, we were in really good shape to defend it.”

Tapping said the team are confident heading into a second away game against Port Adelaide this weekend.

“We’ve been able to hold our own for the majority of most weeks which is pleasing,” he said.

“I think our guys are getting belief in how we play and really starting to own how we play now.

“We’ve played good footy over there the last couple of times.”