The UWS GIANTS were gallant in defeat as they went down to the Brisbane Lions at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday Afternoon.
Football fans were treated with an early Easter gift, with both sides playing a high quality brand of football, in what was a thrilling contest despite the windy conditions.
The GIANTS were cheered on by a passionate home crowd, and they used it to their advantage early creating several chances, with their forward pressure telling on the scoreboard in the opening term, as they managed to open an eight point lead at the quarter time break.
The Lions rallied however in the second term and on the back of an increased number of inside fifties, they managed to convert their advantage into scoreboard pressure to take a 9 point lead into the main break.
Both sides were not going to give the game away easily though in the third as they continued to match each other both physically and on the scoreboard. The crowd was treated to some terrific end to end football as the margin remained tight with both sides swapping goals throughout the term, with the Lions leading by two clear goals at the end of the quarter.
The Lions fitness and experience was the difference however in the final term as composure in front of goal and some smart decisions ensured they ran out winners by 28 points.
GIANTS coach, Brett Hand was pleased with the performance of his side who were highly competitive for all four quarters, a weakness he pointed out following the sides round one defeat to the Swans.
“I was reasonably happy with the way we played and we won some ball from clearances, and we struggled with our fitness in a little bit in the end with a couple of guys playing their first game and a few guys going down with cramp, but pretty happy with the way we fought it out.”
“I think it helped today having a few more of our players back. We were really strong on making sure we won any 50/50 ball and put our body on the line, so it was good to see players doing that all day,” said Hand.
Hand praised the efforts of a number of players, who battled hard throughout the day.
“Adam Treloar was good today, and he got a lot of the ball. He was a bit rushed and hurried with his disposal, but he found the ball well which was the pleasing thing, and he ran the game out injury free. A couple more weeks under his belt and he will certainly be knocking on the door for senior selection.”
“Anthony Miles was fantastic, playing with a hard tag he won some good clearances, Shaun Edwards was good again on one of their key forwards. Sam Reid was good, and Dean Brogan had a great first half and Liam Sumner had a good second half after being a little quiet early on,” said Hand.
The UWS GIANTS now look ahead to next Sunday when they take on their Western Sydney neighbours, Sydney Hills Eagles at Blacktown International Sportspark before the big clash between the GIANTS and West Coast Eagles.
Hand said not a lot would change as they look to get their first points of the season against the Eagles.
“It’s just a bit about consistency. The things we asked from them this week, we will ask it from them again next week. It doesn’t matter what opposition we play against the things we pride ourselves on we have to keep doing it week in week out.”
UWS Giants 12.9-81 def. by Brisbane Lions 15.19-109
Best-
Treloar, Miles, Edwards, Brogan, Reid, Sumner
By Adam Santarossa
