The Greater Western Sydney Giants will be looking to consolidate their place in the AFL‘s top eight when they host the Gold Coast Suns at StarTrack Oval in Canberra on Saturday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores from 5:40pm (AEST).
It has been a positive start to the season for the AFL’s youngest side, with wins against St Kilda and Melbourne, backed up by a positive showing against older brother Sydney in the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ last week.
Contrasting to the start that has seen the Giants earn an early spot inside the top eight, their opponents today have had a less than ideal start to the season.
Losing Jaeger O’Meara and Gary Ablett from the team has really put the pressure on the Suns, and thus far they have not been able to rise to the challenge of filling these voids.
They also seem to be struggling to adopt the style of play that Rodney Eade is trying to implement, however signs from the Geelong match indicate the team may be close to clicking.
If this match had been played in Round 3, the equation would have been simple: in the first two rounds the Suns lost to Melbourne and St Kilda, while GWS beat the same sides relatively convincingly.
That equals a GWS win, right?
Well, a week is a long time in football, and with some positives to draw on from the Geelong match, combined with the resigning of their skipper during the week, we can be sure the Suns will enter this match ready to take it to the Giants.
Added to this will be the motivation for the Suns to reclaim the expectation that they will be the first expansion team to play finals. Views on this have (rightly) flipped dramatically from preseason predictions following the opening rounds, and no one enjoys being beaten up by a younger cousin.
Looking at the results of Round 3, this match is poised to deliver.
Can the Giants make it three from four? Or will the Suns finally get their 2015 season underway with a win?
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the Giants vs Suns clash from 5:40pm (AEST).
If you are following the action live, please share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
ALL OVER GWS 16.24.119 Gold Coast 7.11.53 Key Stats: Disposals: GWS 454, Gold Coast 300 Contested Possession: GWS 160, Gold Coast 133 Tackles: Gold Coast 66, GWS 55 Disposal Efficiency: GWS 73%, Gold Coast 65% Marks: GWS 98, Gold Coast 52 Ball winners: GWS Shiel 39 Griffen 29 Ward 29 Scully 28 Coniglio 27 Treloar 27 Gold Coast: Rischitelli 31 Prestia 28 Miller 22 Kolodjashnij 21 Swallow 20 Goal Kickers GWS: McCarthy 5, Cameron 4, Smith 2, Treloar 2, Shiel, Greene, Stewart Gold Coast Dixon 2, Swallow, Martin, Bennell, Matera, Smith Best: GWS: Shiel, David, Haynes, McCarthy Gold Coast, Prestia, Rischitelli, Matera I'll put up a full report soon
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Zac Smith gets rid of Haynes and marks 15 out. He makes no mistake with the kick and kicks a consolation goal GWS 16.23.119 Gold Coast 7.11.53 00:41 left
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
McCarthy has a chance for number 6 but it is off target GWS 16.23.119 Gold Coast 6.11.47 3.35 left
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Devon Smith has a snap and it bounces through. The lead is now 71 points. As I said earlier, their biggest ever win was 64 against Melbourne last year. Their highest ever score was 125 against Brisane last year which is now just 2 kicks away. GWS 16.22.118 Gold Coast 6.11.47 4:54 left
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Cameron and McCarthy appear to be having a bit of a goalkicking competition. McCarthy kicks his 5th GWS 15.22.112 Gold Coast 6.11.47 5:58 left
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Another goal from transition. This time Nick Haynes cutsoff a Gold Coast inside 50. A few handballs later and Jeremy Cameron marks inside 50 and kicks his 4th. GWS have kicked 9 of their 14 goals from transitioning from defence GWS 14.22.106 Gold Coast 6.11.47 7:05 left in the final quarter
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Yet another quick transition from quick defence sees Jeremy Cameron skid another one home from 40 out. Interesting to note that GWS biggest ever win was 64 points against Melbourne in Rd 21 last year. They now lead by 58 GWS 13.19.97 Gold Coast 5.9.39 16:04 left in the game
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Apologies, I lost internet due to the storms in the Blue Mountains right now. GWS dominated that quarter (was able to watch on my phone). Little for Gold Coast to cheer about. Jeremy Cameron almost locked in goal of the year with an incredible bicycle kick but unfortunately was just the wrong side of the post
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Well the second quarter was a lot closer but GWS still hold a strong lead. Gold Coast have played some strong footy at times but have been horrible at others. McCarthy & Cameron are teaming up forward. Cameron only has 1 goal to his name but has played a part in setting numerous others up. Haynes and Ward have been brilliant off half back. For Gold Coast, Prestia has found a lot of ball whilst Rischitelli has been strong in defence with 6 tackles but there has been little support from their teammates Key stats: Marks: GWS 48-24 Contested Possession: GWS 83-74 Clearances: GWS 23-18 Disposal Efficiency: GWS 71%, Gold Coast 63% Inside 50: Gold Coast 29-28 Top ball winners: GWS: Shiel 21 Ward 16 Coniglio 14 Treloar 14 Gold Coast Prestia 22 Rischitelli 16 Miller 14 Kolodjashnij 11 Goal Kickers: GWS: McCarthy 4, Treloar 2, Cameron, Smith Gold Coast: Swallow, Bennell, Martin, Matera SCORE: GWS 8.8.56 Gold Coast 4.6.30
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
For about the 3rd time this game, GWS go from Fullback to a goal. This time Cameron sends an underground handball to McCarthy who kicks his 4th. Harley Bennell steals one back for the Suns GWS 8.8.56 Gold Coast 4.4.22 11 seconds til half time
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Lots of back and forth play with not much going on. David gets a fingertip on a long bomb to save a goal. GWS 7.8.50 Gold Coast 3.4.22 1 minute left in the first half
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Fantastic team goal from the giants. Haynes gets the turnover off halfback. It goes via a few hands including Griffen and McCarthy kicks his 3rd GWS 7.7.49 Gold Coast 3.4.22 7:40 left in the 2nd
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
McCarthy kicks truly from a set shot for his second. Cameron takes a contested mark from the centre square and kicks straight. GWS get 2 in a minute GWS 6.7.43 Gold Coast 3.4.22 8:48 left in the second
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Rodney Eade gives the Suns a spray at 1/4 time and it works with Swallow kicking the first of the 2nd quarter GWS 4.4.28 Gold Coast 2.2.14
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Quarter Time Gold Coast had a great 5 minutes to start the game but it has been quite literally all GWS since then. Gold Coast are really struggling to get the ball off half back. Rischitelli is the only player who has played for Gold Coast - he has 10 disposals and 4 tackles. Dixon & Lynch have only managed 4 disposals between them GWS 4.4.28 Gold Coast 1.2.8 Goalkickers: GWS: Adam Treloar 2, McCarthy, Smith Gold Coast: Jack Martin
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Great courage from Rhys Palmer going back with the flight of the ball. Doesn't quite get. The grab but it doesn't matter as his teammate in Smith picks up, kicks around his body and GWS have 4 in a row GWS 4.4.28 Gold coat 1.2.8 1 minute til quarter time
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Kolodjashnij turns the ball over on half back. Griffen gives it to Stewart who takes a strong contested mark but he sprays the shot GWS 3.3.21 Gold Coast 1.2.8 4.49 left
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Tom Lynch outfoxes Davis but sprays the shot. GWS go coast to coast, Treloar picks the ball up on the 50 line and skids one through GWS 3.2.20 Gold Coast 1.2.8 7.54 left in the first
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Devon Smith sends a monster barrel from the square, it doesn't quite have the legs but Cam McCarthy kicks his 9th for the season GWS 2.2.14 Gold Coast 1.1.7 9.28 left in the first
John Hamilton
Roar Pro
Great ruckwork from Mumford and a few slick handballs sets Treloar up for the Giants first GWS 1.1.7 Gold Coast 1.0.6 14.05 left 1st