Australian Football

Match Report

Greater Western Sydney were mostly competitive in their debut game against Sydney in round one, but North Melbourne dealt the AFL’s newest team a harsh reality check down in Tasmania. The first ever AFL match to be played at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena was effectively over at quarter time when the Kangaroos led by 43 points after kicking seven goals to none. It didn’t get any better for the Giants after that as they failed to kick a goal for the first half, but managed six during a brief purple patch in the third. Former Demon Tom Scully, who crossed to the GWS on a multi-million dollar deal, played his first game for the Giants after missing round one, having suffered a cheekbone injury in the final practice match in a collision with teammate Israel Folau. The rugby league convert Folau was heavily criticised after his debut game in round one and his performance against the Kangaroos was again disappointing. Young Roo Ryan Bastinac, who ironically has been rumoured to be a target of Giants recruiters, was simply outstanding with 44 possessions and two goals. North Melbourne recorded 505 possessions and had 15 goalkickers in the 129-point rout. A positive for the Giants was four goals to young forward Jeremy Cameron.

GOALS:

North Melbourne: Edwards 5, McIntosh 3, Harvey, Mullett, Goldstein, Bastinac, Petrie 2, Swallow, McMillan, Anthony, Cunnington, Wells, Wright, Anthony, Adams

GWS: Cameron 4, Ward, Davis, Smith, Giles

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
North Melbourne: Bastinac, Adams, Anthony, Firrito, Wells, Edwards, McIntosh, Harvey

GWS: Cornes, Cameron, Giles, Greene, Smith

BEST - THE AGE
North Melbourne: Bastinac, Anthony, Edwards, Adams, Harvey
GWS: Cameron, C Cornes, Giles

COACHES COMMENTS
Brad Scott (NM): If you'd have guaranteed that (result) before the game, we'd have taken it and run. But we really focused on the way we wanted to play (and) we knew GWS were going to give us a fierce contest around the ball and to their credit I think they did that, it's just very difficult to sustain that effort.

Kevin Sheedy (GWS): You'd have to say we're disappointed we never really played well that first half. You travel down here, train for two weeks and don't kick a goal. Even though we had the opportunity to kick a couple of goals we didn't get them.


Umpires: Rosebury, Ryan, Mitchell