The stakes couldn’t have been any higher when the Greater Western Giants and Melbourne football clubs ventured to the nation’s capital in Canberra to seek an ascendancy in the 2017 AFL finals race. At stake was a prized double chance berth in the upcoming finals series. Whilst the Demons began the game superbly, posting three quick goals and looking like they’d dominate the game, the Giants absolutely blitzed Melbourne with a stunning 8 eight turnaround in the first quarter. It was the highest first quarter score in the clubs short history. After the goal deluge, the Demons were never able to get back in the game with the Giants running out impressive 35 point winners. The win was even sweeter with the debut of injury plagued veteran Brett Deledio who was impressive.

Welcome back Lids.Brett Deledio leads the Giants back into the sheds after a belated, but welcome debut. Photo: Jodie Newell

The Giants impressive win over Melbourne was characterized by an intensity at the contest and the ability to apply enormous pressure on any Melbourne play.When the Giants had the ball it was a return to the “Orange Tsunami” tactic with it’s usual exponents in midfielders Dylan Shiel, Tom Scully, Callan Ward, Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio storming down the corridor of the Manuka Oval with blistering speed and peppering the goals. Whilst in defense, Zac Williams, Nathan Wilson and Heath Shaw began many attacks from their defensive zones.Josh Kelly was the main goal scorer booting three joining with nine other teammates in the goal scoring party.

Greater Western Sydney kept Melbourne under enormous pressure at the contest. Photo: Jodie Newell

For Melbourne, they simply were shut down around the ball. The Giants harassed, tackled and outplayed their opposition. The early form shown by Melbourne was a glimpse of what they have been capable of this season, but it was too little, as they dropped off with their intensity and the signs for coach Simon Goodwin would have been disturbing. The only positives for the Demons were the games of Bernie Vince, Jordan Lewis and Clayton Oliver who each had plenty of the  football.

It was that kind of day. Alex Neal-Bullen epitomizes the Demons fortunes. Photo: Jodie Newell

In one of the more entertaining contests of the game was the ruck bout between GWS Giants ruckman Shane Mumford and Max Gawn. At times things got a little heated, with Mumford finding himself in trouble when the AFL Match Review Panel later deemed a hard, high level contact hit on Gawn as worthy of a one match suspension. Mumford who plays the game on the edge in terms of physicality, looked to have been pulling away from Gawn as his shoulder clipped the big Demon, but the MRP saw otherwise an outed Mumford for one game.

The contest between Max Gawn and GWS ruckman Shane Mumford was entertaining. Photo: Jodie Newell

Post game Leon Cameron was delighted with the victory and it’s obvious ramifications. Cameron made a point of praising the teams pressure at the contest “It was good that everyone bought in and played some really good defense”. Demons coach Simon Goodwin was disappointed at the fade out of his side in the first quarter “The Giants tackled us incredibly well earlier in the game. They used the ball well going further in the centre. we probably butchered the ball at times”. The win sees the Giants (12 wins 5 losses & 2 draws) move to second place on the AFL ladder. They face the Western Bulldogs away next Friday night in Melbourne. The loss means the Demons (10 wins, 9 losses) drop out of the final eight to tenth position. They face St-Kilda at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next Sunday.

“We butchered the ball” Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin. Photo: Jodie Newell

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 8.6 10.7 13.12 14.13 (97)
MELBOURNE 3.0 5.1 7.1 10.2 (62)

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly 3, Johnson 2, Smith 2, Coniglio, Scully, Himmelberg, Shiel, Ward, Mumford, Deledio
Melbourne: Melksham 2, Neal-Bullen 2, Gawn, Tyson, T. McDonald, Pedersen, Watts, Maynard

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio, Scully,Mumford
Melbourne: Gawn, Lewis, Vince

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: –
Melbourne: –

Reports: –

Umpires: “Razor” Ray Chamberlain, Nathan Williamson, Shaun Ryan

Official crowd: 14,274 at Manuka Oval, Canberra