The Greater Western Sydney Giants have sent a scary warning to the AFL by posting their biggest quarter-time score in over two years.
The Giants booted 7.3 (45) to post a 31-point lead at the first change of Friday night’s clash with Richmond.
Not since round 18 of the 2019 season has GWS taken such a big score into the rooms after one term.
That season, the Giants famously marched to their first ever grand final appearance, where they were defeated by Friday night’s opponents, the Tigers.
But the script was flipped early on in this most recent exchange.
The score was also the second-biggest quarter time haul this season — only the Power in round 11 were more prolific in front of goal in the opening term than the Giants were on Friday night.
In the absence of suspended goal sneak Toby Greene, Tim Taranto and Harry Himmelberg helped themselves to two majors each in the first term. The Giants controlled the footy better than the defending premiers, scoring 5.2 (32) of their points from intercepts, compared to Richmond’s 1.0 (6).
GWS enjoyed six marks in its forward 50 for the term and, pleasingly for coach Leon Cameron, managed to convert those opportunities into goals on four occasions.
Recently re-signed Giant Josh Kelly returned from injury to lead the disposal count for his side to quarter time.
Greater Western Sydney has given Damien Hardwick even more reason to hate Marvel Stadium after all but ending Richmond’s finals hopes in emphatic fashion at the Docklands venue on Friday night.
In what was a virtual elimination final for both sides, with just two points and two positions separating them on the ladder, the Giants were the only ones who looked like they understood the gravity of the situation as they absolutely tore Richmond to shreds in the first half before running out comfortable 39-point winners.
The result saw GWS take a big step towards securing a finals berth, moving to seventh spot heading into the weekend, while the Tigers now need Fremantle to beat West Coast on Sunday, otherwise they will become the first back-to-back premiers to miss the finals since Adelaide in 1999, bringing an end to their incredible triple premiership dynasty.
But even if the Tigers do manage to somehow squeak into the eight, they’ll only be making up the numbers based on this performance.
Hardwick’s side had no answers for the Giants’ devastating centre clearance work, astonishing forward efficiency, manic pressure and electric run-and-carry.
The Giants not only capitalised on the lethargic Tigers’ lack of pressure on the ball carrier, but also regularly found holes in Richmond’s undersized backline.
The Tigers were overwhelmed and simply couldn’t cover the absences of David Astbury, Nathan Broad, Noah Balta and Bachar Houli down back – even with experienced hands such as Dylan Grimes and Nick Vlastuin still in the line-up.
With the heat well and truly taken out of the contest, the Giants kept their foot on Richmond’s throat in the second half to register their third-biggest win against the Tigers.
–With NCA NewsWire
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