The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have received a reminder about how tough life can be in the AFL with a 92 point defeat at the hands of the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
Coming off their historic first win last week, the young GIANTS were never really in the hunt in what was their fifth week in a row on the road.
The GIANTS were jumped early by the hungry Lions with Daniel Merrett kicking five goals in the first quarter.
Merrett finished with a career best seven goals and together with captain Jonathon Brown (five goals) paved the way for the 19.18 (132) to 5.10 (40) victory.
The GIANTS will learn a lot from the loss and now take on Essendon in their first ever match at Skoda Stadium next Saturday night.
It will be the first time Kevin Sheedy will have coached against his old side and an historic moment for the game in AFL in Sydney.
Speaking after today’s match, Sheedy said he was disappointed with the loss in the club’s fifth game in a row on the road.
“It’s probably an awkward position to be in because I don’t think obviously a young side can be up all year,” he said. “You just have to be very careful how you look at this match.”
“We are still searching for our best side and we’re going to play x amount of players to get them through games and we can actually assess them and work out where the list will be at the end of the season.”
After Merrett's early onslaught, the Giants battled hard in the second quarter but fell away after half-time, kicking just two goals and conceding nine on a hot Brisbane afternoon.
Although the clearances were dead even at 33, the Lions midfield got on top in the contested possessions (141-116) and spread much quicker than their younger opponents, who rested young star Thomas Bugg, Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith.
Rhys Palmer was among the Giants' best with 23 disposals, as was Callan Ward, who managed 24. Ruckman Jonathan Giles continued his good form with 14 disposals, 16 hit-outs and a goal.
BRISBANE LIONS 7.3 10.9 13.14 19.18 (132)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.2 3.5 4.5 5.10 (40)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Merrett 7, Brown 5, Rockliff 3, Karnezis 2, Rich, Zorko
Greater Western Sydney: Wilson, Giles, Phillips, Scully, Tyson
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Merrett, Brown, Rockliff, Black, Rich, Hanley
Greater Western Sydney: Palmer, Ward, Giles, Coniglio
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Greater Western Sydney: Jacob Townsend (calf) replaced in selected side by Nathan Wilson
SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane Lions: Jared Polec replaced Joel Patfull in the fourth quarter
Greater Western Sydney: Matthew Buntine replaced Adam Tomlinson at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Ritchie, Armstrong
Official crowd: 16,049 at the Gabba
