Australian Football

Match Report

The divergent paths of the AFL's two newest clubs was displayed starkly on Saturday afternoon and evening. The GWS Giants, stung by an opening-round thrashing at there hands of Adelaide, thrashed the Gold Coast Suns to the tune of 102 points. In the process, the Giants racked up their highest ever score - 24.16.160 - and the 102-point margin represented their biggest win of their less-than-six-season history.

GWS was switched on from the start, a behind to Ryan Griffen after just 18 seconds followed by goals to Steven Johnson, Jeremy Cameron and Toby Greene within the first six minutes of the match. The sides traded in behinds after that, until Peter Wright kicked the Suns' first early in time on. At that stage, the margin was just 14 points, but goals to Greene, Devon Smith (two) and Rory Lobb in the last 10 minutes of the term saw the Giants already 38 points ahead at the first end change.

The margin blew out to 49 points when Lobb and Josh Kelly opened the second quarter with further goals, but former Magpie Jarrod Witts finally gave the Suns their second goal when he kicked truly at the 12-minute mark. Greene's third took the margin beyond 50 midway through the term but Gold Coast got a run-on late in the quarter and two goals to Jack Martin with another to Kade Kolodjashnij had the Suns back within 34 points at the long break.

Gold Coast maintained the momentum in the early stages of the third term, and a third goal to Martin followed by Gary Ablett's first had the Suns suddenly within 22 points after four minutes. Ablett's goal appeared to sting GWS, and the Giants slammed on the next six goals through Kelly, Cameron, Dylan Shiel, Cameron again, Johnson and Sam Reid. At the final change, GWS was well in command leading by 58 points. 

There was no let-up from the Giants in the final term as they kicked the first four goals of he term - two to Cameron - to career away to an 82-point lead. Michael Barlow gave the Suns brief respite with his first goal at the 13-minute mark but GWS then went on its merry way, kicking the last four goals of the match to send the final margin into three-figure territory. 

GWS had winners everywhere but Greene (five goals, 22 possessions), Shiel (28 touches and a goal) and Cameron (six goals, 12 marks) were stand-outs. For the Suns, Kolodjashnij (11 marks, 27 disposals) and Touk Miller (27 possessions) were among the best.

The Giants will travel to Hobart on Saturday to take on the winless North Melbourne, while the Suns will host Hawthorn, another team without any wins, at Carrara in Sunday's twilight match.

GOALS
GWS: Cameron 6; Greene 5; Johnson, Kelly, Smith 3; Lobb 2; Reid, Shiel
Gold Coast: Martin 3; Wright, Witts, Kolodjashnij, Ablett, Barlow

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
GWS: Shiel, Kelly, Cameron, Ward, Greene, Davis
Gold Coast: Kolodjashnij, Martin, Miller, Swallow

BEST - THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
GWS: Greene, Cameron, Kelly, Mumford, Ward, Kennedy, Wilson
Gold Coast: Miller, Rosa, Martin, Kolodjashnij

INJURIES
GWS: Patton (hip) replaced in selected side by Young
Gold Coast: Nil

UMPIRES: Foot, Findlay, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Dermott Brereton, Gerard Healy, Cameron Mooney