The Numbers Comparison
Clearances
Gold Coast +1 (Ranked 7th)
GWS +7 (Ranked 1st)
Contested Ball
Gold Coast same (12th)
GWS +.5 (9th)
Tackles
Gold Coast +8 (3rd)
Melbourne +14 (1st)
Kick Efficiency For
Gold Coast 59.7% (17th)
Melbourne 59.1% (18th)
Inside 50's For
Gold Coast 50.6 (9th)
GWS 53.4 (5th)
Marks Inside 50 For
Gold Coast 8.4 (=14th)
GWS 8.4 (=14th)
Key Playmaker
Callan Ward (Co-Captain)
Averaging: 23 disposals (60% contested) 7 clearances, 5 tackles & 4 Inside 50s
The co-captain continues to lead from the front, compiling a second successive top-shelf season since moving north from the Western Bulldogs. In his 21 appearances in 2013 he averaged more than 23 possessions and laid a club-best 94 tackles, leading to a runner-up finish in the Best and Fairest.
Last Round
GWS 10.12.72 lost to Adelaide 21.11.137 @ Adelaide Oval
The Giants went into the game missing the experience and leadership of Shane Mumford, Heath Shaw & Phil Davis.
Despite starting the game well and leading midway through the first quarter, the Giants were hit by cyclone Dangerfield, the Crows star cutting loose with 17 disposals and four goals prior to half time. The Giants also lost their skipper in the 2nd quarter, subbed out with concussion. This saw Adelaide pile on 7.6 to the Giants 1.3 in the second quarter, to lead by 49 pointss at the main break
In the second half the Giants battled on scoring 7.7 to the Crows 10.5.
In the Media
“I think with the two expansion clubs we’re going to see a lot of rivalry between individual players in those sides. Rory Thompson on Jeremy Cameron, for example.
“The match-ups, you just go through them all, it’s going to be super.
“We’re going to see Josh Kelly running around on Jaeger O’Meara for 10 or 15 years.”
- GC SUNS Coach, Guy McKenna
“We have experience in our back half and our midfielders are starting to understand a bit better about transition footy.
"It was disappointing that 40 minutes of footy against Adelaide, they really scored heavily, but this time last year it would've really blown out.
"I was really pleased we hung in there under trying circumstances with some of our leaders out.
"I think overall our players are understanding they can defend a bit better.”
- GWS Giants Full Forward, Jeremy Cameron