The UWS GIANTS went down to the Sydney Swans in Round One of the 2012 NEAFL season on Saturday at ANZ Stadium.

The more experienced Swans proved too strong for the young GIANTS with the Swans running out winners 23.13 151 – to the GIANTS 4.9 33.

Despite the loss, GIANTS NEAFL coach, Brett Hand remains positive

“For us it is not about the result at this stage, we have a group of kids that haven’t played together before. We had a seven top up players which gave a chance for our Slater & Gordon Academy players to play and the way we stuck the game out was really pleasing.”

“We had 11 shots to their fourteen in the last quarter, so we are reasonably happy with that, and our effort to go man on man in the second half was good,” Hand said.

Hand said that the result did not mean the GIANTS would not have a successful season.

“In the same game last year we were beaten by a similar margin, 15 goals, and it was a group of boys that had only been together for sixteen weeks. This group has only been together for ten weeks, and last season we ended up beating the Swans towards the end of the season, so the opportunities will come, and the way we really fought the game out is the pleasing thing.”

“It’s about players developing themselves individually and giving themselves in the right frame of mind and showing them things that will improve their game to give them a chance to play AFL footy,” said Hand.

Hand was impressed with the work of Shaun Edwards, who provided a lot of run and drive whilst Anthony Miles worked tirelessly for 38 possessions in the midfield. Hand praised Mark Whiley and Sam Reid for their hard work in defense and Liam Sumner also caught the eye with his running ability off the wing

The UWS GIANTS have the weekend off before hosting fellow AFL club, Brisbane Lions at Blacktown International Sportspark, which hosts their next three matches.

Hand says he will not be hitting the panic button just yet and that plans will remain the same for the side.

“We will look at the same sort of things, we will just go in there with the plan on working on things individually and hope to put that together for four quarters and not just in patches,” said Hand.

Hand said whilst the differing playing list week to week and inclusion of GIANTS Academy players was challenging, it would not be used as an excuse for poor results.

“For us its about players on the field adopting the role as leaders and coaches themselves, so that new players coming into the team do the right things as far as structures are concerned and not giving them a five minute education before the game starts,” said Hand

“Players coming in for us we expect that they attack the ball when it is there and win the ball when they have the chance.”

The UWS GIANTS next home game is against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday April 7 at Blacktown International Sportspark, Rooty Hill.

RESULT

Best – Clifton, Whiley, Reid, Miles, Sumner