The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS have won the battle of the young guns at Blacktown Olympic Park today, defeating the Gold Coast SUNS by 37 points.
In the second of many exciting clashes between the AFL’s newest recruits the GIANTS looked fierce with 13 separate goal scorers converting their efforts on the scoreboard and Stephen Clifton racking up 30 possessions.
The home side came out firing from the start with South Australian Josh Growden booting the GIANTS’ first goal two minutes into the match.
The GIANTS were able to cement their lead through strong pressure and attacking football around the ground, Dylan Shiel lead the way dominating clearances through the middle.
Leeton’s Jacob Townsend was also impressive for the GIANTS with 17 touches including two goals. Townsend’s first goal from a set shot 40 meters out after the half time siren allowed the home side to go into the half time break with a commanding 35-point lead.
“It was a pretty good feeling to get two goals, but I think I was pretty lucky with one of them, it was definitely a fluke that it went through.
“More importantly, it was just awesome to see so many of the boys getting involved on the scoreboard. I think we had 13 different goal scorers in the end, which is a huge effort from the boys.
Israel Folau continued his strong form from the past two weeks, booting another impressive goal at the beginning of the third quarter from a set shot 35 meters out.
The SUNS managed to work hard and switch the momentum of the match later in the third term, kicking five successive goals. Although a play late in the term saw GIANT debutante Tim Segrave force a turn over in the SUNS forward line that resulted in a running goal from Simon Tunbridge, allowing the GIANTS to regain their composure heading into the final break.
Dylan Sheil and Josh Bruce heeded the coach’s advice to force the switch in momentum at the final break, kicking two goals in quick succession to turn the energy of the match back towards the GIANTS.
“At three quarter time when the Gold Coast had grabbed a few goals in a row, the coaches just made it clear that we jut couldn’t stop now, that we had to keep the intensity up. We were focused on kicking the first three goals of the last term.”
“When Dylan put the first one through in that final term the response on the ground was electric. The boys came from everywhere. It was great to be a part of,” Townsend said.
Townsend echoed the excitement and energy in the GIANTS rooms after the game, saying that the squad was thrilled with today’s result and the way that the squad handled the physicality of the SUNS.
“That’s the first time we’ve beaten an AFL standard side, so it was a pretty significant win for the boys and one we were really keen to get.
“It was good to test ourselves against their fitness and strength as they obviously train full time like an AFL side. It was a good physical contest all day.
“The atmosphere and feeling amongst the boys was awesome.”
GWS GIANTS
17.9.111
GC SUNS
11.8.74
GIANTS goal kickers
Stephen Clifton 2
Jacob Townsend 2
Simon Tunbridge 2
Dylan Sheil 2
Josh Growden 1
Jeremy Cameron 1
Sam Darley 1
Stuart Turner 1
Ben Ried 1
Alex Carey 1
Israel Folau 1
Ben Casley 1
Josh Bruce 1
Bests
Clifton, Giles, Bruce, Darley, Shiel, Williams
