The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS showed enormous character and determination when they took on the Brisbane Lions Reserves at Coorparoo today. A young GIANTS squad continued to run and chase the ball through four quarters, impressing head coach Kevin Sheedy who described the match as the best that his team has played so far, going down to the lions by 15 points.
The match started in a GIANT fashion with Jonathan Giles booting the first goal from a set shot just a few seconds into the game. Both squads battled for the lead throughout a spirited first half of footy. As the siren sounded in the first quarter, Jeremy Cameron took a spectacular mark from the pack and slotted the goal, sending the GIANTS into the first break leading by eight points. The second quarter ended in similar fashion, with Andrew Phillips taking a mark in the GIANTS forward line on the siren and kicking a goal.
A decision to move Israel Folau from full back into the forward line in the second half proved to be a success with Folau providing a strong target in the forward line, assisting a number of goals and taking some solid marks. Sheedy praised Folau’s efforts in a week that has seen the former Brisbane Bronco come under a great deal of media scrutiny and speculation about his AFL future.
“He played very well up forward, there’s no doubt about that, he created a couple of goals for us and was competitive. There is a big difference between the forward and back line and he dealt really well with the change.
“We’ll keep giving him a run up there, it will help him build up his aerobic fitness and get more of the ball.
“He’s played about eight hours of AFL so he’ll just keep getting better and better,” Sheedy said.
At three quarter time, Sheedy took the GIANTS Academy members aside from the main group and encouraged them to seize the opportunity that was in front of them. The young GIANTS took note of Sheedy’s message and showed a huge amount of drive in the final term.
“I think that there were some tough pieces of play where Stuart Turner and Joe Redfern were really impressive. When you’re putting a year ten student out there and only losing by two goals, you’d have to think to yourself, ‘I can’t wait to see them out there when they’re twenty’.
“The last two weeks we’ve played against AFL Reserves teams and played our best footy,” he said.
Sheedy also praised the efforts of Tasmanian GIANT Andrew Phillips, who was a stand out in the orange and charcoal today, kicking four goals in his best performance yet.
“He’s a guy that was left out of the draft and we picked him up as a rookie and was fantastic today. Kicked four straight through the middle,” Sheedy said.
The GIANTS will play Queanbeyan Football Club at 2pm at Blacktown Olympic Park next Saturday May 21.
GWS GIANTS
12.14.86
Brisbane Lions Reserves
14.17.101
GIANTS goal kickers
Andrew Phillips 4
Joe Redfern 2
Jeremy Cameron 2
Jonathan Giles 1
Joshua Bruce 1
Nils Wilson 1
Adam Flagg 1
Bests
Phillips, Cameron, Giles, Clifton, Bruce
