Australian Football

Match Report

Greater Western Sydney's tough second season continues to be just that after the Giants were thrashed by an even 100 points at the hands of West Coast in front of less than 7,000 fans at the Sydney Showground. The Eagles jumped away to a big lead in the first quarter and were never threatened at any stage after the first break.

The Eagles kicked seven goals to the Giants' two in each of the first two quarters to establish a commanding 66-point lead at half time. GWS showed great spirit in the third term and played an attractive brand of football which enabled them to kick four goals for the quarter and match the Eagles. But the young GWS players were unable to sustain that effort into the final term, and West Coast outscored them 5.5 to 0.3 to register a three-figure victory.

Nic Naitanui, in his fourth game back from a long-term groin injury, hit peak form and was best on ground with 30 hit-outs, six kicks, seven handballs and two goals. He received great support from Matt Priddis, Chris Masten and Jack Darling. Co-captains Tom Scully and Callan Ward tried hard all day for the Giants and Jeremy Cameron was again damaging up forward.

The Giants are without a win after nine rounds and it is difficult to see from where their first will come. They play Carlton Geelong and Port Adelaide in their lead up to a mid-year bye. Continually low home crowds must also be a source of concern for GWS management and demonstrate that success for the Giants is going to be very much a long-term affair.

For West Coast, the win enabled it to make a giant leap on the ladder, from 11th to sixth, and the Eagles will have a chance to consolidate their top-eight berth with a home game against Richmond and an away fixture against St Kilda taking them through to a bye.

GOALS
GWS: Cameron 3; Ward 2; Smith, Scully, O'hAilpin
West Coast: Darling, Kennedy 5; Le Cras, Hill 3; Naitanui 2; Shuey, Sheppard, Kerr, Gaff, Butler

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
GWS: Cameron, Greene, Scully, Whitfield, Ward
West Coast: Naitanui, Darling, Kennedy, Priddis, Gaff, Hurn, Masten

BEST - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
GWS: Adams, Greene, Cameron, Whitfield
West Coast: Naitanui, Masten, Kerr, Priddis, Shuey, Gaff, Darling

COACHES' COMMENTS
Kevin Sheedy (GWS): We're playing the best [teams] at the moment, and I think our players understand what the quality of the opponent is. I think that's a great lesson for us from that point of view. It's a tough gig but I think the fans know that and they'll appreciate it when we start playing like the [Sydney] Swans are now.

John Worsfold (WCo): We're really satisfied with the way we came and performed today. Our focus was to come and perform well for four quarters and I thought the boys did that. The key thing was we wanted to play the brand of football that we're working towards playing and there's no room for slacking off or dropping your guard, so we were really pleased with that.

INJURIES
GWS: Dean Brogan (back spasms) replaced in the selected side by Setanta O'hAilpin
West Coast: Bradd Dalziell (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES
GWS: Setanta O'hAilpin replaced by Curtly Hampton at half time
West Coast: Bradd Dalziell replaced by Mark Hutchings at quarter time

UMPIRES: Stewart, Fila, Burgess