Australian Football

Match Report

GWS has finally broken its 2013 "duck" with a win over hapless Melbourne at the Sydney Showground on Saturday afternoon. The Giants, who started as favourites in a match for the first time in their short existence, broke away from the Demons in the second quarter after a relatively even first term, and withstood a late third-quarter surge to eventually run away to an easy 37-point win.

The drought-breaking win, coming a year almost to the day after the Giants' last triumph, was set up by fine performances from co-captains Callan Ward (four goals and 31 touches) and Tom Scully (29 possessions), along with Lachie Whitfield (26 disposals, two goals) and Adam Treloar (30 possessions).

As he has been so many times this year in the face of adversity, Nathan Jones was again Melbourne's best, gathering 29 touches. Cam Pedersen (21 disposals and a goal and youngster Dean Kent (15 possessions and two goals) also gave their all.

The Giants will harbour some hope of overtaking the Demons in the season's final four weeks and avoiding the wooden spoon, although it's hard to see where the win they need will come. Thew Giants take on Fremantle, Bribane and Gold Coast away, and Richmond at home in their last month.

Melbourne's final four games sees it take on Gold Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and the Bulldogs, with the Suns and Dogs perhaps chances for the Demons to add to their 2013 tally of two wins.

GOALS
GWS: Cameron, Ward 4; Smith 3; Whitfield, Giles 2; Tomlinson, Adams, Bugg, Shiel
Melbourne: Watts 2, Kent 2, Fitzpatrick 2, Howe, Spencer, Clisby, Trengove, Pedersen, Byrnes

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
GWS: Ward, Whitfield, Scully, Treloar, Hampton, Smith, Bruce, Cameron
Melbourne: N Jones, Clisby, Pedersen, Viney, M Jones, Kent

BEST - THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
GWS: Ward, Smith, Whitfield, Haynes, Scully, Hampton
Melbourne: N Jones, Viney, Pedersen, Byrnes, Kent

INJURIES
GWS: Nil
Melbourne: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
GWS: Stephen Coniglio replaced Toby Greene at three-quarter time
Melbourne: Aaron Davey replaced Max Gawn during the third quarter

UMPIRES: Bannister, Wenn, Ryan

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Hamish McLachlan, Basil Zempilas, Tom Harley, Andrew Welsh