Spotless Stadium, Homebush, Sydney Australia

The saying “when the stars align” was in play on many levels in the latest installment of “Bob Ten”, (Battle of the Bridge, 10th game) v Sydney Swans. Firstly, New South Wales AFL football was on show to the nation. The twilight game was watched by a record sell-out crowd who smashed the previous numbers by 2,ooo+ extra fans. Make no mistake, the AFL would be absolutely delighted that their product has grown in a city whose inhabitants decide when or where they will go to a sports game regardless if you are winning or losing. And the good people of Sydney are flocking to both teams games in 2016. Throw in an incredible, implausible winning kick of $100,000 by a fan in a club sponsor 3/4 break segment and it was all happening at the Showgrounds. The Giants also won the White Ribbon Cup which is to raise awareness and help prevent domestic violence.

Part of the record 21,541 crowd in attendance at Spotless Stadium (Sydney Showgrounds) Photo: Jodie Newell

The Greater Western Sydney Giants were celebrating a major milestone in playing their 100th AFL game. Since their first match of 2012, it has been a rocky road for the boys in orange. Regular one hundred point plus beatings, low attendances, the Melbourne AFL media pack,  (who dislike any AFL outfit north or west of the border) laughed and resented the GWS set up. Those folks are today no longer laughing. They are taking this team, as they should, very seriously. They play a thrilling, modern brand of football with speed, hard at the ball contests and a defensive set up led by Heath Shaw that can quickly build into an unstoppable goal scoring attack.

GWS Giants defender Heath Shaw evades Lance Franklin and sends his team into another attack. Photo: Jodie Newell

The start lived up to the pre-match hype, with both teams trading goals and keeping pace with each other. The Giants could have had a couple of goals more, but for inaccurate kicking. They easily led the inside 50 metre zone count and it took sometime for Sydney to get anywhere near their forward arc. The first quarter ended with the Giants leading by 1 point.

The Giants began the second quarter quickly out of the blocks. Jonathon Patton booted a goal with Swans big man Callum Sinclair replying. Jeremy Cameron and Ryan Griffen posted two successive goals and the Giants were looking the better of the two sides. Their midfield was in electrifying form. Callan Ward, Dylan Shiel, Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio were teaming beautifully and moving the ball at an incredible pace.

Stephen Coniglio (left) was part of the GWS Giants super talented midfield that simply outran the Swans defense. Photo: Jodie Newell

The big turning point of the game came late in the second quarter when Sydney Swans ruckman and key forward Kurt Tippett suffered a serious leg injury and tentatively walked off the ground. The Swans physios meticulously searched and felt around Tippett’s right knee area. Kurt walked up and down along the boundary line testing his leg. He didn’t appear to have a limp as he headed towards the Swans sheds. After consultation with the club medicos and Sydney ruck coach Steven Taubert, it was decided Kurt would take no further part in the game. He did not run out with his team mates after the break, but sat on the bench with his right leg bandaged. Sydney coach John Longmire said post-game that the injury was serious and that further scans and diagnosis would be carried out to determine the extent of the injury.

A bleak Sydney Swans bench Kurt Tippett (knee) & Gary Rohan (hamstring) out of the game. Photo: Jodie Newell

With Tippett out, the Swans had to adjust their line-up and strategy. Consider the following formation photos listed below. It was a rather confusing adjustment the Swans made in terms of their centre area set up. With Tippett out of the game, Lance Franklin was curiously moved into the centre, with Callum Sinclair in the ruck. The move of Franklin left a huge hole in the forward line and Franklin, whilst quick on the lead is hardly a speedy midfielder. Earlier in the game when Tippett was healthy, it was the usual  classic midfielder set up for Sydney. So with the new adjustment, when Sydney tried to go forward they were seriously short, with Jarrad McVeigh, James Rose and Isaac Heeney in place. The GWS Giants defenders in Phil Davis and Heath Shaw were able to effectively repel any Swans forays forward due to a considerable height advantage.

Photos & Artwork : Jodie Newell

The Giants took a hold of the Swans lack of height and maintained their pressure. Giants forward Steve Johnson was in vintage form and was running around like a debutante. He was in everything, booting goals and getting handy touches around the packs. Stevie J is playing some fantastic, entertaining football in 2016. His unpredictable qualities with the football is thrilling the Greater Western Sydney fans. Johnson was equal leading disposal gatherer with 27 touches and 2 goals. Sydney didn’t entirely fade and to their credit, scored three goals via James Rose, Lance Franklin and Tom Mitchell which kept them in touch at the final break.

Josh Kennedy (with ball) was constantly under GWS Giants pressure at the contest Photo: Jodie Newell

The GWS Giants were determined to shake off the Swans and clutch the game. One of the closers was GWS player in Sam Reid. If there ever was a story of perseverance in the face of constant denials or lack of opportunities, then Sam Reid’s tale is a beauty. He hadn’t played a senior AFL game since 2013, was delisted, re-listed repacked, re-issued, renewed etc etc more than a greatest hits record. Given a chance of redemption in the NEAFL competition, Reid relished his opportunity and he capped it off with a goal in the final quarter. The utter joy was palpable as his team mates rushed to slap him on the back as a gesture of “well done champ, welcome back”. Jon Patton also kicked a goal in the last quarter and his “comeback” story from serious knee injuries is another example of the belief and “standing by your mates culture” the GWS Giants have ingrained in their footballing ethos.

GWS Giant Nathan Wilson was super efficient with his disposal rating an impressive 88.9% Photo: Jodie Newell

There were scenes of utter jubilation as the siren rang out and the Greater Western Sydney Giants celebrated their 7 goal victory over their cross town rivals in Sydney. Joining in the GWS party were former Australian Test cricket captain and product of Sydney’s West in Steve Waugh, the Premier of New South Wales in Mike Baird and Giants devotee Melissa Doyle. The GWS Giants theme song was roared loudly in their sheds with utter gusto and pure passion. It was a thrilling win for a team that has accomplished a great deal over it’s short 100 game history, one wonders what the next 100 will bring.

There’s a big, big sound coming West of the town via GWS Giants stars Stevie Johnson & Heath Shaw. Photo: Jodie Newell

Post game, a sombre Sydney Swans coach John Longmire was obviously concerned with the ramifications of losing key player in Kurt Tippett, but responded by saying that his club had achieved a great deal already, despite losing over 1000 games of playing experience through retirements and player movements from last year and would bounce back. The news wasn’t any better for Sydney with Gary Rohan suffering a hamstring injury. Sam Reid who had played a serviceable game for the Sydney Swans in the NEAFL curtain raiser, copped a niggling calf injury towards the end of the game. Reid would have been an instant inclusion considering the injury to Tippett, however his return to the senior side is doubtful at best. The Sydney Swans (9-3) are currently 3rd on the AFL table. Next week they return home to the Sydney Cricket Ground to play a very much improved Melbourne (6-6, 10th on ladder) on Sunday afternoon at 1.10 pm. The Demons will be brimming with confidence after a big win over arch rivals Collingwood during the traditional Queens Birthday Monday fixture.

Headache. Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has some serious injury concerns for his side. Photo: Jodie Newell

In the Greater Western Sydney camp post-game, Leon Cameron was delighted with the team’s effort. Cameron told the press he rated Sydney very highly and to beat them was a great achievement. He was full of praise for all of his players and was delighted with the return of Sam Reid. Cameron related the story of how he had told Reid he was de-listed, but then a year or two later was telling him he was back in the senior side. The Giants (8-4) much needed win has them sitting 6th on the AFL ladder and play the struggling Essendon (1-11 bottom of ladder) in Melbourne at Etihad Stadium next Sunday afternoon at 4.40 pm.

GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron walks into the sheds with his side after they convincingly defeated the Sydney Swans by 7 goals. Photo: Jodie Newell

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY        2.4      6.6     10.11     15.15     (104)
SYDNEY SWANS                               2.3      4.6      7.9        9.9         (63)

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 4, Johnson 2, Patton 2, Scully, Cameron, Griffen, Coniglio, Lobb, Reid, Whitfield
Sydney Swans: Franklin 2, Jack, Rohan, Sinclair, McGlynn, Rose, Mitchell, Kennedy 

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Shaw, Greene, Johnson
Sydney Swans: Hannebery, Kennedy, Mills

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Sydney Swans: Kurt Tippett (knee), Gary Rohan (hamstring)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Brendan Hosking, Justin Schmitt, Ray Chamberlain

Official crowd: 21,541 at Spotless Stadium (Sydney Showgrounds)