GIANTS SEE OFF SUNS
GWS too strong in battle of league’s expansion clubs
The “expansion cup” lived up to the hype in the Adelaide Hills as Greater Western Sydney walked away with bragging rights with a 28-point win over the Gold Coast Suns.
In front of 9337 fans, the Giants are one of three teams that remain undefeated this season.
GWS skipper Toby Greene led from the front, combining with power forward Jesse Hogan with nine goals between them.
But it was the household names of Lachie Whitfield (29 disposals), Stephen Coniglio (28 disposals, 2 goals) and Josh Kelly (27 disposals) that helped the Giants claim their best start in the AFL. The Giants flew out of blocks early in the opening quarter to lead by a 17-point margin before the young Suns settled and headed into the first break by just nine points.
Kicking with the breeze in the second quarter, the Suns took it right up to the Giants, taking the lead midway through the term before the Giants answered right back thanks to Greene.
The MRO is likely to look into a dangerous tackle from Greene on Suns defender Mac Andrew early in the third quarter.
Andrew didn’t like the treatment from the tackle and returned fire by slinging Greene to the ground, rewarding the All-Australian captain a free kick and his fourth goal of the afternoon.
The Suns defender lifted after the costly mistake, taking crucial intercept marks as the Giants tried to push their small lead.
Andrew finished with 24 disposals and a game-high 10 marks.
Small forward Malcolm Rosas had other ideas, kicking two goals in four minutes to give the Suns back the lead but as the Giants had done all day, when the Suns came at them, their big names stood up to return fire.
The Giants went into the final break up by 12 points and continued to apply the pressure to the young Suns in the final term. The Suns continued to run with the Giants, throwing everything they had at them to pull the score back to less than a kick midway through the final quarter before the Giants responded to kick it out to an 18-point lead.
Gold Coast will now return home to host Hawthorn on Saturday with both clubs having a six-day turn around while the Giants will take on St Kilda at Manuka Oval.
GWS skipper Greene could find himself in hot water over his tackle on Andrew.
Andrew’s head made heavy contact with the ground following the tackle from Greene with play continuing.
It is likely the MRO will look into the tackle with the current circumstances around dangerous tackles and head knocks.
Greene finished the game with five goals in the 28-point win over the Suns.
The Suns unveiled three debutants in the clash with the Giants and all three of the academy prospects never looked out of place.
Ethan Read (5 disposals, 1 goal), Will Graham (17 disposals) and Sam Clohesy (22 disposals, 1 goal) showed off the young talent that is coming through and will make Gold Coast Suns fans very happy with the future looking extremely bright.
Read and Clohesy broke the monkey off their back, both kicking their first AFL goals.