Expert
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.
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Final score
GWS Giants 10.17.77
Brisbane Lions 5.13.43
The Greater Western Sydney Giants will look to continue their strong run when they take on a battling Brisbane Lions outfit at Spotless Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:35pm (AEST).
The Giants have made a strong start to the season, winning three of their first four, but they will be frustrated by a loss to the Swans in Round 3 and a draw with St Kilda last week.
It was a game they should have won, with the Saints off to a shaky start to the year. Even with that draw, they only sit one spot ahead of the Lions and the Giants will be concerned about something similar happening this week.
GWS will be without the injured Josh Kelly and Toby Greene, while Tom Scully is also still out, along with a few others.
For the Giants to hang on without their stars, they need to find a way to stop Stefan Martin in the ruck, who has been one of Brisbane’s only bright spots.
While Brisbane do sit equal last coming into the round, they haven’t been quite as bad as the ladder would suggest.
They came close to beating Port Adelaide in Round 3, while last week’s Q Clash came down to the final minutes, but in the end the Gold Coast Suns were too good.
If the Lions can perform more like they did last week and not the week before, when Richmond thumped them by 87 points, they will be in with a fighting chance, particularly given the Giants’ injury issues.
Their defence will have to be strong though. If GWS can find Jeremy Cameron in the forward line consistently, things could get ugly, with the forward already booting 16 goals for the season to sit equal third in the race for the Coleman medal.
Prediction
Brisbane have had some bad losses, but all up they haven’t been as dreadful as their position implies, and will be competitive.
However, the Giants are at home and will want to make a statement.
Giants by 34 points.
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