The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have completed their NAB Cup campaign with a tough hit out against Richmond at Manuka Oval as they prepare for their historic first AFL match.
Richmond won by 74 points with virtually a full strength team, while the Giants were missing the likes of Luke Power, Dean Brogan, Setanta O'hAilpin, Rhys Palmer and Jon Patton.
The Giants have had a mixed pre-season, taking their first victory over Gold Coast, with narrow losses against Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs and suffering two heavy losses to Hawthorn and the Tigers.
But a number of players have shown their potential, with the likes of Will Hoskin-Elliott, Tom Bugg, Devon Smith and Jeremy Cameron excelling against Richmond.
Israel Folau was reported twice for rough conduct in today's match. His fate for the club's first ever AFL game will be decided by the match review panel on Monday.
Head Coach Kevin Sheedy is pleased with what his side has reaped from the NAB Cup.
"We needed to see them play, it's probably the first time I've seen them play in fair dinkum match play against AFL players," he said.
"It's okay to watch them in under-18s and look at recruiting tapes, but this is where you're playing against the men."
The audition is now over and this week the Giants will prepare to take on the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium.
Renowned publicity machine Sheedy was asked if he had any tricks this week or any stunts involving the Harbour Bridge.
"We'll see what we can do," he said.
"There's plenty you can do with the Harbour Bridge, or the Anzac Bridge.
"I mean we are the Giants of western Sydney and they're more eastern and north Sydney.
"There might be a bit of play up and down the Parramatta River some time this week."
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has joined the growing band of pundits who believe Greater Western Sydney will surprise plenty of people in its debut AFL season.
A win-less first year and 100-point losses are the sort of predictions that have been directed towards the Giants, who will play their first AFL match against the Sydney Swans in seven days' time.
But Hardwick has a different view after his side clashed with GWS at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
GWS also matched Richmond's score of 4.2 in the second term and Hardwick is wary of writing them off.
"I disagree, I think they're going to be an okay side," Hardwick said when it was suggested the Giants might struggle all season.
"They're going to take some time, there's no doubt about that, but we were really impressed with some of their players today.
"The way they attacked the ball was very, very good and I think we won the contested possessions (143-127), but over the course of the pre-season they've matched their opposition a number of times.
"I think they've got enormous upside, they're just learning the rigours of AFL football, how demanding it is but also the systems in play.
"They have some great coaches who will be able to mould them and get them playing the footy they want to."
Match details
RICHMOND 3.9 7.11 13.17 20.20 (140)
GWS 0.1 4.3 6.4 10.6 (66)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 6, Deledio 4, A Maric 2, Nahas 2, Vickery, Foley, Jackson, Edwards, Miller, Grigg
GWS: Smith 3, Giles 2, Wilson 2, Cameron, Hoskin-Elliott, Greene
BEST
Richmond: Deledio, Cotchin, Foley, A Maric, Rance, Nahas
GWS: Ward, Giles, Hoskin-Elliott, Smith, Cameron, Bugg
Reports: Folau (GWS) reported by umpire Nicholls for high contact on Jackson (Rich) in the second quarter.
Umpires: Nicholls, Jennings, Gleeson, Bannister
Official crowd: 4,222 at Manuka Oval
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE MATCH
