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The Roar

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Giants cruise to win over Lions

Dylan Shiel of the Giants. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
28th April, 2018
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Greater Western Sydney have consolidated their position among the early AFL frontrunners, with a 34-point win over Brisbane in an AFL match in which both teams kicked poorly.

GWS never trailed at any stage on Saturday night but neither did they look like tearing apart the winless Lions, and the home team recorded a 10.17 (77) to 5.13 (43) victory at Spotless Stadium.

Hard-working Matt de Boer tallied a career-best 34 touches for GWS, who were also well served by fellow veterans Brett Deledio and Ryan Griffen, plus Lachie Whitfield, Tim Taranto and Stephen Coniglio.

Brisbane couldn’t get anything going offensively in the first half, kicking just 1.6.

The Lions enjoyed a 47-4 advantage in the hitouts, with Stefan Martin dominating against makeshift ruckmen Jon Patton and Adam Tomlinson, but GWS largely controlled the game at ground level.

With goals from Zac Langdon, Jeremy Cameron and Deledio, GWS carved out a 17-point lead at the first break.

The Lions’ first six shots were behinds and they didn’t post a goal until 11 minutes into the second quarter when captain and leading possession-getter Dayne Beams landed a long-distance set shot after taking a courageous diving mark.

GWS hit back with majors to Daniel Lloyd, Adam Tomlinson and de Boer to lead by 33 points at halftime.

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It took the Lions less than two minutes of the third quarter to kick a goal but GWS kicked the next two majors to establish a match-high advantage of 39 points.

Brisbane booted the last two goals of the term, including a 60m-plus bomb from an otherwise quiet Eric Hipwood, to trail by 26 at the last change and couldn’t reduce the deficit in the last quarter.

Langdon came off in the second quarter with a knee injury, while Brisbane’s Mitch Robinson was placed on report.

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