By Luke Holmesby
Lavington Sports Ground in Albury is not a traditional host of football history, but it secured its spot as a trivia answer for years to come when Greater Western Sydney secured its first ever win in an AFL game.
The Giants defeated fellow AFL newbies Gold Coast SUNS by 13 points, kicking 0.11.10 (76) to 1.8.6 (63).
Senior players Rhys Palmer and Callan Ward were keys to the Giants win, using their experienced bodies to great effect in the middle and around the ground.
Chad Cornes was sturdy in defence, cutting off the Gold Coast SUNS supply while Phil Davis also starred for his work down back.
But it was the work of the Giants' youngsters that would have given the most satisfaction to coach Kevin Sheedy.
While not a teenager, 24-year-old Stephen Clifton continued his impressive auditon for a starting place in the Giants' midfield, gathering 17 touches.
Liam Sumner was just as impressive with 17 possessions and two goals.
Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt impressed in the first time they took to an AFL field together.
Leading by just two points at the final change, the Giants won the crucial first centre clearance that resulted in a goal to Curtly Hampton. It brought a massive cheer from the Lavington crowd consisting mainly of GWS fans - or at least those who had gone to the trouble of buying the merchandise.
A few minutes later Toby Greene took a diving mark 30 metres out from the Giants goal. He looked to give the handball off and was tackled to the ground. But, in a stroke of luck for the Giants, he instead received a 50m penalty and a certain goal.
It was a tight struggle to see out the game that ended in a fitting win to the AFL's newest team.
Curtly Hampton kicked a ball out of mid-air with less than two minutes remaining to gain a vital behind to regain the lead for his team.
With the game in the balance, the Giants turned the ball over and finished with a vital goal to Chad Cornes.
David Swallow starred for the GC SUNS, being the no.1 midfielder in the absence of Gary Ablett, while Campbell Brown enjoyed a rare foray forward to kick three goals.
Jarrod Harbrow and Jared Brennan rebounded well from the back half.
GWS 0.1.4 0.4.6 0.7.7 0.11.10 (76)
GOLD COAST SUNS 0.3.2 0.5.5 0.7.9 1.8.6 (63)
GOALS
GWS: Sumner 2, Palmer 2, Green 2, Cornes, Miles, Bugg, Cameron, Hampton
GOLD COAST SUNS: Caddy (supergoal), Brown 3, Smith 2, Swallow, Hickey, Sexton
BEST
GWS: Palmer, Miles, Sumner, Ward, Cornes, Davis
GOLD COAST: Brennan, Smith, Swallow, Brown, Hunt,
INJURIES
GWS: Nil
GOLD COAST: Nil
Reports: Nil
Official crowd: 6740 at Lavington Sports Ground
