There was no re-writing of the record books as Hawthorn saw off a plucky Greater Western Sydney by 83 points in Saturday’s AFL clash at Aurora Stadium.
The result might have never been in doubt but predictions the in-form Hawks would smash all kinds of records proved wide of the mark in a 21.14 (140) to 9.3 (57) victory.
The enthusiastic young Giants – $17 with the bookies – battled hard after last week’s mauling by Adelaide and even matched the Hawks’ third-quarter goal-scoring at three apiece after trailing by 47 at halftime.
The Hawks led by 50 at three-quarter time before running away against the tiring Giants in the last quarter in front of Launceston’s smallest AFL crowd, 10,513.
Typifying GWS’s fight was Jeremy Cameron with four hard-earned goals, his side’s only multiple scorer.
Jarryd Roughead booted five for the Hawks, with Jack Gunston three and Lance Franklin and Shaun Burgoyne recording doubles among 13 goal-kickers.
Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson had testily predicted a tough game on Friday, but his side’s winning streak extends to seven, while GWS remain winless after eight rounds.
Roughead had two by the first break after Hawthorn had booted six goals to two to lead 37-13.
The Hawks kicked the first four before GWS fought back tenaciously with goals to Palmer and Miles.
But Hawks midfielder Sam Mitchell ensured the quarter belonged to his side with an early contender for goal of the round, sneaking one through from a seemingly impossible angle.
Franklin and Gunston booted two each in the second term and the Hawks led 79-32 at the long break, and the floodgates looked like opening.
They didn’t and the Giants mounted a massive third-quarter effort that stifled the home side’s star-studded attack.
It was all they had left in the tank, though, and Hawthorn kicked six straight majors in the last to right the ship.
Allan
Guest
You must be joking, I honestly recommend you visit Western Sydney ASAP to see how much of a dismal failure this team is. They are on borrowed time.
Stavros
Guest
Allan - there aren't enough soccer fans in the Gold Coast to notice any hostility. It will work in West Sydney, and the AFL won't throw in the towel the way the FFA do. In a couple of years Jonathan Patton and Jeremy Cameron will be two of the biggest names on the Sydney sporting scene.
Allan
Guest
Normal AFL fan response that means nothing 'as long as they're being talked about that's good right- right'??? I don't recall seeing any hostility to the Gold Coast Suns, but in the case of the Giants there's clearly an anti-AFL sentiment and its growing. There's no shame in accepting it didn't work this time around, moving the team to Canberra is clearly the best solution here.
Nomenclature
Guest
Imagine West Tigers under 20 team playing in the NRL - what do you think the scoreline would be - the AFLs lack of free agency prevented a group of gypsies moving to a new startup team like WSW and we will see how that goes. Post hoc is a naysayer about every effort tried by anyone other than instant successes err like Gold Coast Chargers, Adelaide Rams, Northern Eagles, Western reds, Hunter Mariners, Brisbane Crushers etc
Nomenclature
Guest
POst hoc Rubbish Skoda used by RAS, rock concerts and other non sport events. Multi cultural centre available to local community groups and other sports. Blacktown Oval used by local AFL, cricket and under age AFL and available for other sports - they only have to book... BTW do you see the hypocrisy of whinging about spending money in Blacktown and then saying it was built for the Olympics...
Jimbo
Guest
Ha ha, well said Stavros, for a team so out of everyones consciousness, they sure get noticed !!.
Post_hoc
Guest
From a Giants perspective, a big difference because previous week it was a bigger thrashing, and it has been fairly constant for a previous season and now this season as well. The NRL example was none of these. The last part of fishes question you did ignore as well, the AFL's pathetic launch commercial this year, trying to say our game is global was just painful. The AFL very clearly want to think of themselves globally, but they cant get people watching in a new market within their own country.
Australian Rules
Guest
Given the obvious differences in scoring values, what's worse: 140-57 (Hawks v Giants) or 54-10 (Sou v WT) and 62-6 (Pen v NZ)?
Stavros
Guest
Post Hoc – for a team that doesn’t exist, they sure do get people hot under the collar.
Post_hoc
Guest
I do have a big circle of sport loving friends, not 2 million to be sure, but pretty big, and simply no one talks about GWS, I don't follow NRL nor do I follow Netball, but I can name players in both of those.
Post_hoc
Guest
Skoda can be used by what other sport in Sydney? Maybe cricket, but that is about it, no other sport plays on an Oval shaped massive field. So no benefit there. The multicultural centre what is it, what does it do, the point of it is? Blacktown sport precinct was actually built for the Olympics, Govet funnelled more money in for GWS who promptly left and wants more money out at Homebush, again what good. They are purpose built facilities that support only one code
Nomenclature
Guest
Again I am impressed that you can speak for 2m people - talk about being arrogant...
Nomenclature
Guest
I love the way these alleged Western Sydneyites can speak for 2m people - they must have a wide circle of friends
Nomenclature
Guest
Facilities at Skoda, the multicultural traing base and Blacktown sports precinct all which can be used by others in the area. Thats what investment is all about...
Nomenclature
Guest
The Qld Govt according to Anna Bligh never entered a bid - as if the NRL GF would go to Auckland...get serious
Post_hoc
Guest
I wouldn't say there was hatred, as can be seen from the 2000 if that, that turned up last week, it is no one cares, simple as that. A random sample of sport fans in Western Sydney, I reckon you would be lucky to find 1 that knew of player from GWS. But I bet they could name NRL, A League, Swans probably Netball, before they could name a Giant. Look Western Sydney love under dogs, but GWS are not even that, they simply don't exist.
Post_hoc
Guest
The figures in the article are pretty close, and the sentiment is spot on, $90 million dollars spent so far on a sporting franchise to win what is it 1 or 2 games in two years? That is pretty pathetic all around. What do GWS actually do for Western Sydney? What benefit have they brought for $90 million spent?
The Critics' Choice
Guest
clipper
Guest
The funny thing is that it maybe in their interest to be hated by certain sections of the community rather than ignored like the Storm in Melbourne. At least you're getting your name in the media and establishing a niche, especially if you keep being 'plucky' week after week.
Allan
Guest
You're right, but there was no hatred in Western Sydney for AFL before the Giants, the insults that followed when they were announced (and the many since) haven't been forgotten.