By Luke Holmeby

GREATER Western Sydney has come within seconds of drawing the first match of its inaugural season before going down by just five points to the Western Bulldogs in the NAB Cup at Blacktown Sportspark on Saturday night.

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With a goal the difference, the ball was deep in the Giants' forward line before co-captain Phil Davis gathered and inexplicably handpassed when just five metres from goal. The result was a rushed behind and a narrow loss.

There were plenty of encouraging signs for GWS, with the established senior players showing the way.

Luke Power and Rhys Palmer were among the best in the midfield, while former Melbourne captain James McDonald was also prolific.

Ruckman Jonathan Giles was solid, while untried youngsters Jeremy Cameron and Curtly Hampton showed they are likely to play big roles in the Giants' first season at AFL level.

GWS was perhaps unlucky earlier in the match when Tim Mohr punched the ball away after a Daniel Cross goal and was pinged for time-wasting. The Dogs were given a free kick, with Matthew Panos kicking truly as a double-punishment.

Phil Davis was a rock in defence, while Sam Reid played the valuable loose player in the back half against his old team.

Hampton was the first GWS player to kick a goal when he received a free kick 35m out against Easton Wood.

The highlight of the Giants' first game of their inaugural season was a nine-point goal to former Dog Callan Ward who kicked a low, penetrating set shot to get his new team within a goal of his former team.

But while GWS was the story, it would be remiss to ignore the work of the Bulldogs, who showed plenty of promise for what might come this season.

Zephaniah Skinner played just one match last season but is set to build on that tally in 2012, booting two goals and having another unsuccessful shot. He was lively in the forward line, while Patrick Veszpremi rebounded well from the back half.

Matthew Boyd was his usual consistent self in the midfield, racking up 17 touches in just 40 minutes of football.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 0.1.1 1.3.3 (30)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 0.3.2 0.5.5 (35)

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Ward (super goal), Hampton, Giles, Palmer
Western Bulldogs: Skinner 2, Minson, Cross, Panos

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Palmer, Power, Cameron, Hampton, McDonald, Giles
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Skinner, Liberatore, Cross, Giansiracusa, Hargrave

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Grun, Ryan, Harris

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.