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Gold Coast SUNS have advanced to the qualifying finals of the NAB Cup after seeing off a determined challenge by a much-improved Greater Western Sydney side at Blacktown Olympic Park on Saturday night.
The Giants suffered a 79-point mauling at the hands of the Sydney Swans in the first game of the night, but held a surprise one-point lead at half time before fading in the face of a stronger second-half by the GC SUNS that set up the 0.8.4 (52) to 0.4.3 (27) result.
Stand-in skipper Campbell Brown and Nathan Krakouer came out of the team that stunned the Swans to even up the experience deficit between the sides, but the Giants still found themselves floundering early.
GC SUNS put through the first three goals of the game, but Kevin Sheedy's plucky youngsters dug deep and hit back hard.
GWS failed to score a goal in its first hit out against the Swans, but tall forward Jimmi Savage broke the drought when he marked and kicked his side's first major in AFL competition seven minutes into the first half.
Isaiah Stevens had two unsuccessful attempts at goal in the first match, but made up for that inaccuracy with a brilliant goal on the run soon after that had the locals on their feet.
Jarrod Harding added his side's third in the shadows of time leaving GC SUNS coach Guy McKenna with plenty to think about during the break.
GC SUNS poured on the pressure without reward after the restart before Luke Russell and Brandon Matera hit the scoreboard to break the game wide open.
Former Magpie Danny Stanley was important with 12 possessions, while Daniel Harris, Harley Bennell, Dion Prestia and Hayden Jolly were all prominent. Alik Magin impressed as an opportunist small forward for the GC SUNS with two goals.
Stephen Clifton, Dylan Shiel, Jonathon Giles, Damian Williams and Josh Bruce wee among the Giants' most consistent performers.
Greater Western Sydney 0.3.1 0.4.3 (27)
Gold Coast SUNS 0.3.0 0.8.4 (52)
GOALS
GWS: Nine-point goals: Nil Goals: Savage, Stevens, Harding, Hombsch
Gold Coast SUNS: Nine-point goals: Nil Goals: Magin 2, Harris, Bennell, Harbrow, Dixon, Russell, Matera
BEST
GWS: Clifton, Shiel, Giles, Crook, Williams, Bruce
Gold Coast SUNS: Stanley, Harris, Bennell, Swallow, Prestia, Jolly, Harbrow
INJURIES
GWS: Nil
Gold Coast SUNS: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Kamolins, Hay
Crowd: 9447 at Blacktown Olympic Park
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
