A gallant Greater Western Sydney came within touching distance of its second win of the season in a seesawing clash against Richmond in wet conditions at Skoda Stadium.
The GIANTS trailed the Tigers by just six points with minutes to spare and only two late goals by Daniel Connors sealed a 12 point win for the more highly fancied visitors.
WATCH CAMERON KICK 3:
The GIANTS again won plenty of admirers for their hard contested brand of football and finished with their second highest score for the season - 12.2.74 to Richmond's 11.20.86.
After the game, a relieved Richmond coach Damien Hardwick heaped praise on the young GIANTS side. "All credit to that footy club. They are going to be an outstanding unit. They’re very tough, they’ve recruited very well," he said.
"The type of player they’ve brought into their footy club is a real credit to their organisation. I think they’re going to be very, very good, very very quickly, which is a concern to the rest of us."
Jeremy Cameron continued his outstanding season for the GIANTS, kicking three goals, while Phil Davis and Chad Cornes provided plenty of resistance in the backline and Toby Greene chimed in with two goals.
Number one draft pick Jonathon Patton also showed some very promising signs in his first game, kicking a goal and providing a target up forward and across the ground.
The Tigers dominated possession early and the pressure eventually told on the Giants, with goals to Daniel Jackson, Riewoldt and Shane Edwards giving Richmond some reward for effort.
The home side was able to steady, however, answering with majors to veteran James McDonald and Patton to remain in touch. After a slow start in atrocious conditions, the 19-year-old showed glimpses of his promise late in the opening term.
First he demonstrated his terrific hands by taking a strong contested mark ahead of Matt Dea on the wing late in the term, before racing up the ground and snaring another grab at the top of the goalsquare 45 seconds later.
He kicked truly on a slight angle for his first AFL goal as the Giants headed to the first break trailing by 14 points. That deficit was then slashed to just two points within two minutes of the second quarter, with goals to Cameron and Greene stunning the Tigers.
Richmond responded with four straight behinds before a Trent Cotchin goal helped establish only a two-goal edge at half-time. The Tigers continued their wasteful ways in the third term, kicking 3.7 to the Giants' three straight goals to stretch their lead to 19 points at the final change.
With the game seemingly out of their reach, the GIANTS came storming home in the final quarter before Richmond hung on in a frenetic finish to remain in the hunt for September action.
The GIANTS will play Melbourne at the MCG next Sunday in their first ever game at the home of Australian football.
RICHMOND 4.2 6.7 9.14 11.20 (86)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.0 5.1 8.1 12.2 (74)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Connors 3, Edwards 2, Cotchin, Deledio, Jackson,
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 3, Greene 2, McDonald, Palmer, Patton, Phillips, Schulz, Shiel
BESTS
Richmond: Deledio, Conca, Edwards, Houli, Martin, Ellis
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron, Davis, Cornes, Greene, McDonald, Ward
INJURIES
Richmond: Edwards (ankle)
Greater Western Sydney: Haynes (groin) replaced in selected side by Whiley
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Brett O'Hanlon replaced Jake Batchelor in the fourth quarter
Greater Western Sydney: Sam Schulz replaced Mark Whiley at three-quarter time
Umpires: Stevic, Kamolins, Mitchell
