The GWS Giants have given the Richmond Tigers an almighty thrashing, coming away the winners by 88 points on Saturday afternoon.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
GWS 17.9.111
Richmond 3.5.23
Firmly in the hunt for a top four finish, the GWS Giants return to Canberra to face the Richmond Tigers. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:45pm (AEST).
At second on the ladder, with the competition’s best percentage, Greater Western Sydney are a legitimate contender to hold the premiership cup aloft this October.
An embarrassing home loss to Collingwood three weeks ago saw doubters emerge from everywhere, but since then it’s been business as usual for the Giants. A 79-point demolition of Brisbane followed by a 19-point away win over Port Adelaide sees the club sitting atop a logjam at 12-5.
With Gold Coast, West Coast (home), Fremantle (home) and North Melbourne to close out the year, the Giants will be every chance of gliding into September in white-hot form.
Richmond thought 2016 would be the year their slowly-crafted list would really hit its stride, but instead it looks like the Tigers will have to go back to the drawing board once more.
Sitting just one win outside the bottom four, it doesn’t get much easier for Richmond with Collingwood, Geelong, St Kilda and Sydney to close out the season.
Their recent form has been poor too, with a very unconvincing win over Essendon and a 70-point loss to Hawthorn setting up Tigers fans for a gloomy finish to a bitterly disappointing year.
GWS have never beaten Richmond in five matches, although they’ve ticked a number of teams off that list in 2016.
This is the first encounter between these sides in Canberra, where the Giants have won four of their last five.
Prediction
GWS got a huge wake-up call in their last home game, and you can be sure Leon Cameron won’t let his side underestimate another opponent this year.
With that, as well as Richmond’s poor recent form, in mind – the Giants should claim this one comfortably.
Giants by 41 points.
justinr
Guest
You have to feel for Tiger fans. They just didn't compete today.
Stirling Coates
Editor
» Click here to read the full match report GWS GIANTS v RICHMOND THE ROAR AFL MVP VOTES 3 VOTES - Stephen Coniglio (GWS) - Racked up a game-high 33 disposals, 13 contested possessions, seven tackles and four clearances. 2 VOTES - Heath Shaw (GWS) - Continued his superb season down back, racking up 29 disposals, 11 marks and eight rebound 50s. 1 VOTE - Devon Smith (GWS) - Worked incredibly hard all day, collecting 17 disposals at 88% effectiveness, but the big highlight was his 14 tackles - easily a game-high.
Stirling Coates
Editor
GWS GIANTS v RICHMOND FULL TIME REPORT GWS Giants - 17.9 (111) Richmond - 3.5 (23) GOAL KICKERS Giants: Reid 3, Greene 3, Johnson 3, Cameron 2, Scully 2, Ward, Shiel, Smith, Kennedy Tigers: Riewoldt 2, Lloyd DISPOSAL LEADERS Giants: Coniglio 33, Scully 30, Shaw 29 Tigers: Martin 28, Rance 26, Hunt 24 TEAM STATS Disposals: Giants 393, Tigers 339 Contested Possessions: Giants 130, Tigers 117 Tackles: Giants 69, Tigers 69 Inside 50s: Giants 64, Tigers 38 Clearances: Giants 38, Tigers 29
Stirling Coates
Editor
SIREN The siren sounds on a very convincing win for the Greater Western Sydney Giants. It's the second-highest winning margin in the club's short history, while the Richmond score of 3.5 (23) is the lowest score they've ever conceded. A healthy-percentage boost as the Giants turn their attention to September. GWS - 17.9 (111) RCH - 3.5 (23) FULL TIME
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND GIANTS GWS once again just stroll up the corridor, and in the end the kick goes out to the flank for Jeremy Cameron. Kicking for his third goal of the half, he sprays it across the face, but it ends up rushed over the line. GWS - 17.9 (111) RCH - 3.5 (23) Q4: 1'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GWS keen to just chip it around as the clock winds down. One goal though and they can score their highest ever winning margin. GWS - 17.8 (110) RCH - 3.5 (23) Q4: 2'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL GIANTS Steve Johnson gets a rather fortuitous free kick for a high tackle inside 50, once again he runs in to improve the angle and his high snap from 40 out is a stunner. Three goals on the afternoon for Stevie J. GWS - 17.8 (110) RCH - 3.5 (23) Q4: 3'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Devon Smith reckons he's taken a good mark tight in the forward pocket, but the boundary calls it out on the full. He's had a tough year with injury Smith, but rebounded well. Today he's had 17 disposals at 88% and 13 tackles. GWS - 16.8 (104) RCH - 3.5 (23) Q4: 4'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND GIANTS Brandon Ellis catches Harrison Himmelberg high on the wing, and then whacks him high again after the whistle to give away 50 metres. A decent melee ensues, but meanwhile back at the ranch Himmelberg's set shot is just across the face. GWS - 16.8 (104) RCH - 3.5 (23) Q4: 5'
Stirling Coates
Editor
The inside 50 count currently sits 59-38 in favour of GWS. In too many of Richmond's losses this season they've been absolutely blown away in the inside 50 count. They've got a lot of work to do in the offseason. GWS - 16.7 (103) RCH - 3.5 (23) Q4: 6'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Jack Riewoldt with another attempt at goal number three, kicking from 45 out on a moderate angle, but his nemesis Phil Davis is there once more to cut the ball off on the line. GWS - 16.7 (103) RCH - 3.5 (23) Q4: 8'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GWS just two goals away from breaking their all-time highest winning margin - 91 points. Rory Lobb has re-emerged from the GWS medical rooms in a moonboot. GWS - 16.7 (103) RCH - 3.5 (23) Q4: 9'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Good long kick to half forward looking for Jack Riewoldt again, and he earns another free kick after Phil Davis catches him high. Riewoldt hands off to a runner inside, but their kick inside 50 is cut off by Davis. GWS - 16.7 (103) RCH - 3.5 (23) Q4: 10'
Stirling Coates
Editor
BEHIND TIGERS Shaun Hampson takes the mark in the forward pocket off a Richmond free kick, but his set shot from 20 out on the angle is off to the near side. GWS - 16.7 (103) RCH - 3.5 (23) Q4: 12'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL GIANTS Superb ball movement up the corridor for GWS, and it ends up in the hands of Tom Scully. He outruns his opponent, hits the 50 at full speed, lets it rip on the run and it rolls through for a superb goal! GWS - 16.7 (103) RCH - 3.4 (22) Q4: 13'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL GIANTS Toby Greene just strolls into the unmarked space in Richmond's back pocket, and the kick inside finds him under no duress. Kicking from a very tight angle, 20 out, he goes the drop punt and threads through number three! GWS - 15.7 (97) RCH - 3.4 (22) Q4: 14'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Scintillating build-up for GWS through the midfield and at half forward, but Sam Reid is unable to get the job done up forward. Their midfielders score very well the Giants, but without Rory Lobb they do seem to lack a genuine second marking option outside of Jeremy Cameron. GWS - 14.7 (91) RCH - 3.4 (22) Q4: 16'
Stirling Coates
Editor
GOAL GIANTS Long kick to full forward from Tom Scully finds Jeremy Cameron all on his own, he plays on, and snaps home his second goal of the afternoon with ease. GWS - 14.7 (91) RCH - 3.4 (22) Q4: 17'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Alex Rance once again emerging as Richmond's best on ground this afternoon. Team-high 23 disposals, nine marks and nine one-percenters. GWS - 13.7 (85) RCH - 3.4 (22) Q4: 18'
Stirling Coates
Editor
Rory Lobb yet to emerge from the Giants medical room following his leg injury late in the third quarter. He was pointing to his knee which is bad news, although seemed capable of walking around without assistance. GWS - 13.7 (85) RCH - 3.4 (22) Q4: 19'