GREATER Western Sydney found itself entering the record books after a savage opening quarter against West Coast on Sunday, but the first-year club earned plenty of plaudits for how it responded.
The Eagles set a club record first-quarter score after ramming 11 goals and four behinds down the young Giants' throats and a mauling appeared well underway.
But the visitors only kicked 12 goals the rest of the way to the Greater Western Sydney's eight, with the Giants winning the final term four-goals-to-two in the 23.12 (150) to 10.9 (69) defeat.
It was the Giants' highest score to date and represented another step forward for their embryonic list.
"This is a team in progress," coach Kevin Sheedy said afterwards.
"Obviously West Coast is going to be in the top four and maybe even in the Grand Final.
"We just have to get off to a better start. I thought we were very, very competitive in the final three quarters.
"That's a great experience for our boys and probably the best three quarters that we've put in."
GWS co-captain Callan Ward continued his strong start to the season, finishing with a game-high 36 disposals, while Tom Scully (30 possessions) and Dylan Shiel (28) held their own against the vaunted West Coast midfield.
Shiel would have learned an enormous amount from his first-half duel with Daniel Kerr and was taking plenty of positives from the experience.
"It was a slow start, they obviously got away in the first quarter," Shiel said.
"But after that they only scored four more goals than us, we beat them in clearances (37-35) and had two extra possessions (377-375).
"I think there's 30 teenagers on our list so there's lot of positives out of that.
"They're going to be a top-four side."
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTOS FROM THE MATCH
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.0 4.1 6.5 10.9 (69)
WEST COAST 11.4 15.8 21.9 23.12 (150)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Giles 3, Palmer 2, Ward, Bugg, Treloar, Tomlinson, Townsend
West Coast: Shuey 5, Masten, Lynch 3, Naitanui, Kennedy 2, S.Selwood, Smith, Dalziell, Cox, Hill, Darling, Hams, McGinnity
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Shiel, Palmer, Ward, Scully, Giles, Power
West Coast: Shuey, Gaff, Schofield, Masten, S.Selwood, Hurn
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: TBA
West Coast: TBA
SUBSTITUTES
Greater Western Sydney: Jeremy Cameron replaced by Curtly Hampton in the third quarter
West Coast: Bradd Dalziell replaced by Patrick McGinnity at half time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Ryan, Wenn
Official crowd: 6,875 at Blacktown International Sportspark.
