Daniel Lloyd and James Stewart played starring roles in the WSU GIANTS’ 42-point win over Southport at Spotless Stadium on Saturday.
Lloyd produced a dominant display in the middle of the ground as he continues to push for an AFL debut after being elevated from the club’s rookie list earlier this season. He finished the match with 35 disposals, 10 marks and a goal in the victory.
“Lloydy being such a big stronger bodied midfielder is able to get the ball going our way and I love his attack on the ball,” NEAFL coach Brad Miller said.
“He was outstanding for the four quarters.”
James Stewart was a constant threat up front for the GIANTS, with the tall forward taking 12 marks and kicking five goals to become the team’s leading goal kicker for the year.
“He looked really dangerous every time it went inside the forward 50 and I was really happy to see James kick a good bag of five,” Miller said.
The GIANTS side took a 17-point lead into the halftime break before kicking six goals in the third quarter to push their lead out to a match-winning 45-points at the final change.
The match saw both Will Hoskin-Elliott and Caleb Marchbank make successful returns from long injury layoffs, with Hoskin-Elliot kicking two goals and Marchbank collecting 22 possessions down back.
Brad Miller was full of praise for his defence throughout the match, highlighting the performances of Marchbank, Harry Himmelberg, Pat McKenna and Matthew Flynn, who played his first game in defence.
The GIANTS fielded a side full of Academy talent, with Mitch Maguire, Harry Macreadie, Kobe Mutch, Harry Perryman and Zach Sproule all returning from representing the Allies at the recent NAB AFL Under-18 National Championships.
“It’s really important for those kids to come in and get the job done so I was really pleased,” Miller said.
“We threw Harry Perryman on the ball in the last quarter and I thought he really showed something and Harry Macreadie was really good down back.”
The 14.21 (105) to 9.9 (63) victory is the GIANTS’ fourth straight and sees them move up to second on the NEAFL ladder heading into the final six rounds.
The WSU GIANTS travel north to take on the Brisbane Lions Reserves next Sunday before a top of the table clash with the Swans Reserves at the SCG on Saturday July 23.
WSU GIANTS 14.21 (105) def. Southport 9.9 (63)
Goal Kickers: James Stewart 5, Will Hoskin-Elliott 2, Tom Downie 2, Connor Owen-Auburn, Zach Sproule, Daniel Lloyd, Jarrod Brander, Jake Barrett
Best Players: Daniel Lloyd, James Stewart, Pat McKenna, Matthew Flynn, Sam Reid
