The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS won their fifth game in a row in Wagga today, cementing the young club’s longest ever-winning streak.
The young guns out ran, out kicked and out tackled the Belconnen Magpies to win by 66 points on a day when Alex Carey dominated in the midfield and Israel Folau and Josh Bruce kicked eleven goals between them.
Leeton GIANT Jacob Townsend said that he was impressed with the young players who stepped up in a physical match today after a number of GIANTS players were sidelined with injuries after last week’s game.
“I’m feeling pretty wrecked at the moment to be honest because it was a tough game.
“Alex played really well through the midfield and I was impressed with Izzy but it really was a great team effort. We have a lot of players missing from the side and everyone worked really hard.”
Townsend said that he enjoyed playing in front of a home crowd today, lining up alongside GIANTS Academy member and childhood friend, Curtis Steele.
“It feels great to play in Wagga; my mum and cousins are all here.
“Curtis played with us today as well and kicked two goals, we’ve been friends since we were little. It’s great that local players get a chance to play with the side when we’re here.
“It feels good to come and play in front of a home crowd and have a big win.
“I thought I played an all right game; I had a lot of tackles, which I’m proud of.”
The Magpies managed a string of goals towards the end of the third quarter in what was otherwise a one-sided contest. Townsend said that the GIANTS coaching staff encouraged their young players to stick to their structures and game plan to ensure that they remained on top in the final term.
“At three quarter time they said to go out and play our style of footy and make sure that we dictated the pace of the game to stay on top of them.”
Townsend said that he was impressed with Folau’s six-goal haul today and the way that the budding forward used his body, dominating the marking contest and laying crunching tackles.
“He got fired up; he got pretty aggressive which is great for him.
“It will definitely be good for the team’s confidence because he’s a massive target for us in the forward line; he’s a bit of a man mountain.
“I’m sure it would hurt a bit when Izzy smashes you. He could do some damage laying tackles next year. He’s a big man,” he said.
GWS GIANTS
20.13.133
Belconnen
9.13.67
GIANTS goal kickers
Israel Folau 6
Josh Bruce 5
Curtis Steele 2
Nathan Wilson 2
Anthony Miles
Alex Carey
Damian Williams
Sam Darley
Harry Cunningham
Bests
Wilson, Carey, Townsend, Folau, Miles, Bruce
