Australian Football

Match Report

The GWS remain well within striking distance of a place in the top four after recording a workmanlike win over the Brisbane Lions at the Sydney Showground on Sunday. The Giants would probably have expected to win by more than the final margin of 30 points but the undermanned Lions to their credit made GWS work hard for all four quarters. 

In a low-scoring first quarter, James Stewart got the match underway with a goal within the first two minutes. But Brisbane defended quite well after that, restricting the Giants ti just three further behinds for the term, while adding goals through Nick Robertson and Dayne Zorko. At the first change of ends, the Lions led by four points and were well in the game.

When the second term began, the Giants asserted their superiority and goals to Jeremy Cameron, Adam Treloar and Stephen Coniglio saw them jump out to a 16-point lead. Dayne Beams pulled one back for Brisbane at the 14-minute mark but a goal to Dylan Shiel saw the Giants reestablish a three-goal buffer a the quarter entered time-on. Rohan Bewick kicked the Lions' fourth at the 23-minute mark but majors to skipper Callan Ward and Coniglio gave GWS a comfortable 20-point buffer at the long break.

Brisbane had several chances it work itself back into the match in the early stages of the second half but Ryan Lester, Matthew Leuenberger and Dayne Beams all missed shots at goal. The Giants made them pay after that and goals to Cameron, Lachie Whitfield and Cam McCarthy saw GWS out to a 37-point lead. The Lions to their credit fought on after that and a brace of goals to Rohan Bewick cut the difference back to 26 points at the final break. 

Another major to Josh Green brought the margin back to under four goals early in the final term and it looked as though Brisbane might challenge the Giants but GWS responded as a good team should, with goals to Cameron, McCarthy, Stewart and Ryan Griffen settling the matter. The Lions fought on after that, closing out the game with goals to Zorko and Dayne Beams (two) but it was GWS 30 points ahead when the final siren sounded. 

Ward (12 tackles, 32 possessions) and Shane Mumford (31 hitouts, eight tackles) played fine games for the Giants, while Brisbane's best included Dayne Beams (29 disposals, nine mark) and Lewis Taylor (31 touches).

GWS will take on Collingwood at the MCG next Saturday, a place in the top four awaiting the Giants if they can win, while Brisbane will have a bye next week before meet the Bulldogs in round 12.

GOALS
GWS: Cameron 3; Coniglio, McCarthy, Stewart 2; Treloar, Shiel, Ward, Whitfield, Griffen
Brisbane: Bewick, Beams 3; Zorko 2; Robertson, Green

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
GWS: Ward, Mumford, Coniglio, Shiel, Bugg, Shaw
Brisbane: Taylor, Paparone, Beams, Christensen, Hanley, Martin

BEST - SMH.COM.AU
GWS: Ward, Shiel, Treloar, Mumford, Coniglio, Davis
Brisbane: Beams, Christensen, Taylor, Paparone, Martin.

INJURIES 
GWS: Nil
Brisbane: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
GWS: Toby Greene replaced by Will Hoskin-Elliott in the third quarter
Brisbane: Liam Dawson replaced Matthew Leuenberger in the third quarter

UMPIRES: O'Gorman, Findlay, Harris

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Dermott Brereton, Brad Johnson, Barry Hall