In a scrappy, hard fought affair at Metricon Stadium, Greater Western Sydney gradually worked their way past a brave Gold Coast SUNS outfit on Saturday afternoon by 15 points.
Gold Coast remained within touching distance of Leon Cameron’s side for the duration of the game, before three goals from Devon Smith in the final quarter broke the game over to keep the Giants finals aspirations alive.
With David Swallow joining a contingency of midfield class on the sidelines during the week, the SUNS onball department was always going to find the going tough against an accomplished Greater Western Sydney midfield. But despite a personnel discrepancy, a Gold Coast midfield led by captain Gary Ablett and emerging star Touk Miller worked tirelessly for the full four quarters.
The dual Brownlow medallist finished the afternoon with another haul of 30 possessions – the third successive haul since his return – to go with three goals, nine clearances, five inside 50s and a club record 17 tackles. If there was any question over the state of his shoulder, Ablett put those thoughts to bed with a comprehensive performance against Giants stopper Stephen Coniglio.
A rising star nomination has eluded emerging star Miller for the first two thirds of the season. Surely the wait will be over, after the tenacious midfielder produced the finest showing of his short career. Miller gathered a career-high 27 disposals, 18 contested possessions, nine clearances, seven inside 50s and two goals in a performance that belied his inexperience.
After enduring a frustrating season due to injury and form, Nick Malceski produced his best performance since last year’s Grand Final. The 2014 All Australian defender was clinical with his ball use coming out of the back half, finishing with a season-high 25 disposals at an efficiency rate of 84 per cent, to go with eight rebound 50s.
The SUNS back six battled gallantly all afternoon, with Steven May keeping Giants star Jeremy Cameron at bay and Trent McKenzie nullifying dangerous half-forward Rhys Palmer’s influence. Rory Thompson improved with another hitout under his belt to keep Cam McCarthy out of the game.
Rodney Eade’s decision to go into the game with two-specialist ruckman was vindicated in the opening minute when Tom Nicholls was substituted out of the game with a corked quad. Zac Smith took his opportunity with two hands to be the premier ruckman on the ground. Smith got the better of the battle between Giants pair Tom Downie and Rory Lobb, recording 37 hitouts, 15 possessions and five clearances.
The SUNS inability to spread was always going to be a problem given the plethora of class and outside speed unavailable. But with Harley Bennell and Jack Martin getting through the NEAFL game unscathed, this issue might begin to be reduced in the next week or two.
GC SUNS 4.1 7.4 8.4 12.7 (79)
GWS GIANTS 6.4 7.9 8.15 13.16 (94)
GOALS
GC SUNS: Ablett 3, Miller 2, Sexton 2, Matera 2, Hallahan, Lynch, Smith
GWS Giants: Smith 4, Lobb 2, Cameron 2, Ward 2, McCarthy, Downie, Palmer
BEST
GC SUNS: Miller, Ablett, May, Smith, Kolodjashnij, Sexton
GWS Giants: Smith, Ward, Shaw, Scully, Tomlinson, Kelly
INJURIES
GC SUNS: Nicholls (leg)
GWS Giants: Buntine (concussion)
SUBSTITUTES
GC SUNS: Josh Glenn replaced Tom Nicholls at quarter time
GWS Giants: Curtly Hampton replaced Cam McCarthy in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Brown, Mitchell
Official crowd: 9,589 at Metricon Stadium
