Game Detail

Round: 7   Venue: Manuka Oval   Date: Sat, 12-05-2012 1:40 pm   Attendance: 8,603
GWS	4.2.26	5.8.38	8.13.61	13.16.94	C:
Gold Coast	1.3.9	7.9.51	9.11.65	9.13.67	C:
	GW by 17	GC by 13	GC by 4	GW by 27

Weather

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Match Report

For the first time in their short existence, Gold Coast went into a game as favourites. But the Suns were upstaged by their even younger rivals, with Greater Western Sydney making history in notching up their first win in the AFL. The Giants were tipped by many media experts to remain winless during their debut season, but inside the club, they knew this was a game they could target to get the four points. The scenes were similar to after the Suns scored their debut AFL victory against Port Adelaide in 2011, if not quite as dramatic. Scores were tight for the majority of the match, but GWS pulled away late in the game to record a reasonably comfortable win in the end. The first battle of the expansion teams was staged in neutral territory at Manuka Oval, Canberra, in front of a slightly disappointing crowd of less than 10 000. GWS ruckman Jonathon Giles was terrific, kicking three goals to be named best on ground. Suns captain Gary Ablett made his return from a knee injury after a three-week absence and picked up 33 possessions, but failed to have his usual influence on the contest.

GOALS

GWS: Giles 3, Smith 2, Coniglio, Sumner, Ward, Tyson, Townsend, Shiel, Cameron, Treloar

Gold Coast: Caddy, Day 2, Bennell, Iles, Swallow, Rischitelli, Horsley



BEST - AFL.COM.AU
GWS: Giles, Coniglio, Cornes, Ward, Scully, Power

Gold Coast: Iles, Ablett, Prestia, Caddy, Warnock, Bennell

BEST - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
GWS: Giles, Coniglio, Cornes, Ward, Scully, Power
Gold Coast: Bennell, Ablett, Iles, Prestia, Caddy, Warnock

COACHES COMMENTS
Kevin Sheedy (GWS): It's been a slog, there's no doubt about that, but they did everything we've asked them to do - stoppages, zoning, goalkicking. That's our highest score and we hadn't had as many inside 50s as what we had today.

Guy McKenna (GC): The most disappointing thing out of today was that we played one quarter of footy - that's the only reason we took a step back today. They just thought they'd do the easy things and thought it was all going to fall into their lap. But full credit to GWS, they didn't allow that to happen.

Umpires: Schmitt, Hay, Foot


Player Stats