Not a very surprising result in the end. The Giants still have a lot of development ahead of them and the Swans are a well drilled, well organised team.
The Giants can be happy that they managed to put together some strong sections of play, but like it has been for them the last couple of seasons, their lapses in play look as if they will continue to cost them dearly.
Greene (30), Coniglio (29) and Whitfield (25) led the possession count for the Giants, while Mitchell (34), Parker (27) and Malceski (25) had the most of it for the Swans.
Sydney home by 40 points.
FINAL SCORE:
GWS: 0.11. 9 (75)
SYDNEY: 2.15.7 (115)
Game nine of the NAB Challenge sees the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants clash in Canberra. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:10pm (AEDT).
The rivalry between the Swans and the Giants is very much in its early days; so far the quality of competition between the two sides has been hindered by a dramatic contrast in the quality of each team.
As the Giants struggled for a win in their first two seasons, the Swans were thinking premierships. As a result, the battles between these two Sydney-based clubs have never been able to promise much of a contest.
Considering the Giants have lost each of their previous four regular season matches against Sydney by an average of 79 points, we can be sure that they will not turn their nose up at an opportunity to get a victory against their superior sibling.
Entering their third year in the competition, the Giants carry an expectation that their maturing young stars will start to have an impact in 2014.
That being said, the Giants group will surely be keen to give a performance that provides some positive reinforcement for this idea.
Most notably, Jonathan Patton will pull on orange for the first time since recovering from a devastating knee injury early last season. He’ll line up next to All-Australian forward Jeremy Cameron – a combination that is sure to cause some headaches for opposition teams this year, granted both can remain healthy.
Unfortunately, the Giants’ number one draft pick, Tom Boyd, is not named in the side – fans will have to wait at least another week to watch him play his first game.
At the other end of the ground, the Swans will also be missing a couple of star forwards, with prized recruit Lance Franklin not named and Kurt Tippett still recovering from a knee injury.
Both teams will give fans a first look at some offseason acquisitions with the Giants welcoming in Heath Shaw, Josh Hunt, Shane Mumford, Dylan Addison and Jed Lamb. While Sydney give Jeremy Laidler and Tom Derickx their first run in the red and white.
Despite being a preseason run, their is sure to be some good football on display tonight. The Swans won’t be looking to push themselves too far, but will also be reluctant to let the Giants claim an unlikely victory.
If the Giants come out intent on pushing the Swans as hard as they can, we could be in for a very exciting match.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:10pm (AEDT)
Ryman White
Editor
FULL TIME: Not a very surprising result in the end. The Giants still have a lot of development ahead of them and the Swans are a well drilled, well organised team. The Giants can be happy that they managed to put together some strong sections of play, but like it has been for them the last couple of seasons, their lapses in play look as if they will continue to cost them dearly. Greene (30), Coniglio (29) and Whitfield (25) led the possession count for the Giants, while Mitchell (34), Parker (27) and Malceski (25) had the most of it for the Swans. Sydney home by 40 points. GWS: 0.11. 9 (75) SYDNEY: 2.15.7 (115)
Ryman White
Editor
Into the last minute of play. Everyone looking pretty tired. Understandable after the decent pace that some of the game has been played at. GWS: 0.11. 9 (75) SYDNEY: 2.15.7 (115) 1′
Ryman White
Editor
Brandon Jack earns himself a free kick just outside the Swans 50, bombs it long and the Giants manage to clear. They work it through the centre, losing it momentarily, before moving into their forward 50. Cameron gets a half chance but no score comes of it. 2'
Ryman White
Editor
O'Keefe on the run through the centre sends one long to Rohan who takes a great mark running with the flight. Steps back and slots another goal for the Swans. The margin is out to 40 points now. GWS: 0.11. 9 (75) SYDNEY: 2.15.7 (115) 6′
Ryman White
Editor
Giants with another entry into their forward 50. Bugg finds Addison who lines up for his third goal. Has kick well tonight but this one dirfts to the right in a similar fashion to Rhys Palmer about a minute before. Point to the Giants. GWS: 0.11. 9 (75) SYDNEY: 2.14.7 (109) 7′
Ryman White
Editor
Rhys Palmer gets a mark on the 45-degrees about 30m out. Just fades to the right. Unlucky for the Giants. Would have been a little bit of momentum in their favour if that had gone through. GWS: 0.11.8 (74) SYDNEY: 2.14.7 (109) 9′
Ryman White
Editor
Giants work the ball confidently from coast-to-coast and Ward runs into the open goal. Pull it back to a six goal margin, but it is getting a little late in the game now for the Giants to make a comeback. Will have to come now. GWS: 0.11.7 (73) SYDNEY: 2.14.7 (109) 11′
Ryman White
Editor
Kennedy kicks long from half back, finds McVeigh, ends up as an easy mark for Cunningham who goes back and slots his third goal of the night. Great kick. Lovely play from the Swans. GWS: 0.10.7 (67) SYDNEY: 2.14.7 (109) 14′
Ryman White
Editor
Hannebery breaks the pack in the centre and sends it forward. Mitchell gets his hands on the ball and is taken high. Then the Giants give away a 50m penalty. Mitchell stroles in for his second goal. Has this guy only played 14 games? Yep. GWS: 0.10.7 (67) SYDNEY: 2.13.7 (103) 17′
Ryman White
Editor
Final quarter underway. Giants look to push forward, but the Swans get a quick rebound, working it quickly down the ground. Rohan takes a snap and the dribbling ball is finished off by Cunningham. Goal to Sydney. GWS: 0.10.7 (67) SYDNEY: 2.12.7 (97) 19'
Ryman White
Editor
THREE QUARTER TIME: Some really strong signs from the Giants in that quarter. They controlled portions of the quarter and were able to string strong play together with consecutive goals. Unfortunately their lapses in play were costly, with the Swans able to, again, score consecutive goals in very quick succession. Two late goals to the Swans put the margin back out to 24 points – before some of the Giants impressive play in the third quarter I would have said that was probably too much for them to reel in, but they have shown an ability to string some good play together in this match and should be confident that they are still in the contest. All set for an exciting last quarter. GWS: 0.10.7 (67) SYDNEY: 2.11.7 (91)
Ryman White
Editor
That hurts for the Giants. Trying to control the ball out of their back line with only seconds left on the clock. Turn it over and Jack takes full advantage kicking a nice goal. GWS: 0.10.7 (67) SYDNEY: 2.11.7 (91) 1′
Ryman White
Editor
Stoppage 25m out from the Sydney goal and they manage to pull a late one back. Just a couple of super goals in it now! GWS: 0.10.7 (67) SYDNEY: 2.10.7 (85) 1′
Ryman White
Editor
Here come the Giants! A good build up and a wave of players force the ball into their forward 50. Ball popped up into the goal square and Whitfield runs on for his third goal. GWS: 0.10.7 (67) SYDNEY: 2.9.7 (79) 2′
Ryman White
Editor
Hampton takes a strong contested mark in the Giants defence, works it down the wing and the Giants get a nice forward entry. Patton with the nice hand off gives Addison the chance to slot his second goal. He puts it through. The Giants aren't giving up! GWS: 0.9.7 (61) SYDNEY: 2.9.7 (79) 3′
Ryman White
Editor
Giles gets on the end of a nice entry for the Giants. Strong mark, strong kick. Pulls one back for the Giants. Another late goal would be handy. GWS: 0.8.7 (55) SYDNEY: 2.9.7 (79) 4'
Ryman White
Editor
Again, the Swans get the ball quickly down to Reid from the centre clearance. He converts and the margin is suddenly back out to 30. Unfortunate lapse for the Giants has cost them late in the quarter. GWS: 0.7.7 (49) SYDNEY: 2.9.7 (79) 5′
Ryman White
Editor
Sydney manage to find some space through the middle of the ground and Tom Mitchell runs on to slot a nice goal. If he wasn't already a star after his impressive rookie season, he will surely be a star by the end of 2014. Looks to be a great player in the making. GWS: 0.7.7 (49) SYDNEY: 2.8.7 (73) 6′
Ryman White
Editor
Very important last 7 minutes of play here. The Giants looked like they were holding momentum for the first period of the quarter, but Sydney have managed to settle the play down.
Ryman White
Editor
Sydney with another chance to work it into their forward 50. Mitchell ends up bombing it in long, nearly a mark to Reid, but the ball goes to ground and the Giants get it clear. Next goal critical for momentum in this game. GWS: 0.7.7 (49) SYDNEY: 2.7.7 (67) 8′