WOULD anybody else like to accuse Greater Western Sydney of tanking?
The AFL's newest club emphatically ended any suggestion it was intentionally chasing this year's wooden spoon and first pick in the NAB AFL Draft following a sensational 34-point victory over Port Adelaide at Skoda Stadium.
The Giants had lost their past five matches by an average of 118 points, comfortably the worst five-game aggregate in the history of the game, but stunned Port Adelaide 16.11 (107) to 10.13 (73).
The Giants led by just 12 points at the final change but stormed home with a six goal last quarter much to the delight of the 6,811 fans who had gathered to witness Head Coach Kevin Sheedy's 1000th VFL-AFL game as a player and coach.
Sheedy was showered with drinks by the players as they sang the song in the rooms after the game, with the veteran coach standing inside the huddle like a first game rookie.
Jonathan Giles, who spent four years on the Port list without playing a game, starred in the ruck for the Giants, while Callan Ward and Stephen Coniglio were also outstanding and Jeremy Cameron and Tom Bugg kicked three goals each.
GIANTS Head Coach Kevin Sheedy said that he was impressed with his side’s efforts today, especially that of Jonathan Giles who was impressive against his old club.
" A win like that does a lot for a young club. The kids played a lot of good footy today,” Sheedy
"Full marks to Jonathan Giles and Dean Brogan, I mean they wanted the team to get off to a good start getting out of the square and doing it repetitively.
"When you see a bloke (Giles) discarded and he got a chance to play against his old club ... it's good."
"I thought that we used the ball a bit deeper into space where we got running goals going into goals."
Even during their horrendous losing run, the Giants had been able to get off to decent starts, but they took that to a whole new level under bright sunshine at Skoda Stadium.
Bugg kicked the game's first goal and had another seconds later courtesy of a free kick as the home side flew out of the blocks.
Three kickable set shots were wasted, but it didn't bother the group in orange and grey, which slotted three more goals to cap one of its best quarters of football as a club.
A Jay Schulz goal from after the siren left GWS with a 26-point lead at the first break.
When Adam Treloar slotted another goal on the run 15 seconds into the second quarter, followed by Taylor Adams and Jon Patton, the home side led by 44 points and a major upset was on the cards.
Port was finally stung into action, however, kicking the final three goals of the half against the tiring Giants to reduce the margin to a manageable 25 points at the main break.
The third quarter was one best forgotten as quickly as possible as Port dominated possession and territory but wasn't able to make it count against an exhausted opponent.
The GIANTS then had all the running in the final term to stun their visitors and drag themselves off the bottom of the ladder.
Click here to view the photos from the win
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 5.4 8.6 10.9 16.11 (107)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 4.5 8.9 10.13 (73)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Bugg 3, Cameron 3, Giles 2, Smith 2, Treloar 2, Adams, Cornes, Hoskin-Elliott, Patton
Port Adelaide: Brett Ebert 3, Schulz 2, Brad Ebert, Hartlett, Moore, P.Stewart, Westhoff
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Giles, Ward, Coniglio, Smith, Treloar, Cameron, Greene
Port Adelaide: Cornes, Hartlett, Pearce, Boak, Brett Ebert
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Patton (shoulder)
Port Adelaide: Carlile (hamstring), Logan (thigh), Hartlett (calf)
SUBSTITUTES
Greater Western Sydney: Will Hoskin-Elliott replaced Taylor Adams in the fourth quarter
Adelaide: Aaron Young replaced Hamish Hartlett in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fleer, Pannell, Harris
Official crowd: 6,811 at Skoda Stadium
