The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have been dealt another valuable learning curve tonight after facing Northern Territory Thunder at home.
Thunder showed the young GIANTS why they have only lost one match at TIO Stadium in three years in a physical, fast paced clash that saw the Thunder win by 49 points.
The GIANTS came out firing with Jeremy Cameron kicking the club’s first goal from a set shot outside the 50-meter line. Dylan Shiel and Adam Treloar booted successive goals to leave the GIANTS leading by 11 points at the first break.
Territory born GIANT Shaun Edwards, who is currently completing his year 12 in Melbourne, played his first match for GWS tonight and said that the coaching staff was impressed with the side’s performance in the first term.
“We had a great start to the game so the coaches were really happy with us at quarter time.
“I’m pretty sore but I’m feeling really good as well. It’s nice to have my first game done and dusted.
“I was really glad that I got to play my first game in front of my family and friends at home.
Edwards said that the lightening speed and physicality of the NT Thunder were both factors that contributed to the away side’s loss after the first quarter.
The debutant was also impressed with the GIANTS ability to match the physicality of the Thunder despite the difference in size.
“It was a bit shattering that we couldn’t carry our form in the first quarter through the entire match.
“I think that Thunder just lifted their intensity and their speed around the ground and we struggled to run at that speed for an extended time.
“It was my first game against men so I was a bit worried about it at first. I think that the boys did really well in that aspect, they really fought hard and hit back in the tough contest.”
The GIANTS will head back to Sydney tomorrow to prepare to take on the Brisbane Lions Reserves at home next Saturday. Edwards will travel to Sydney with the team to play his first game at Blacktown.
“I’m excited about playing against the Brisbane Lions in Blacktown next week.
“Hopefully we can take some of the things we learnt today about being more vocal and talking more on the field into that game.”
GWS GIANTS
8.9.57
NT Thunder
16.10.106
GIANTS goal kickers
Jeremy Cameron 2
Israel Folau 2
Adam Treloar
Dylan Shiel
Alex Carey
Josh Bruce
Bests:
Giles, Cameron, Shiel, Treloar
Official crowd:
2,140
