The Greater Western Sydney Giants have defeated the Fremantle Dockers by an unedifying 12 points at the Sydney Showgrounds over the weekend. The Fremantle Dockers were heading for one of the biggest upset wins of the season when they led by 15 points at the final break. The Giants were able to snap out of an error riddled performance and finally overcome a brave and persistent Dockers side.
Phew! Glad to get the 4 points. A relieved Devon Smith after the siren. Photo: Jodie Newell
Nat Fyfe was back to his Brownlow Medal form best amassing 32 disposals and kicking two goals. He ably assisted by Lachie Neale and Stephen Hill.Shane Kersten also chimed in with 3 handy goals. For the Giants, perennial disposal getter Josh Kelly had 27 possesions, with Stephen Coniglio and Dylan Shiel making a significant contribution.
Quick as a flash. Lachie Neal was superb for Fremantle gaining 30 possessions. Photo: Jodie Newell
The Giants began the game in clumsy fashion. They kicked four consecutive behinds before Lachie Whitfield kicked the Giants first goal. It was a frustrating period as the Giants had been inside the 50 metre area 14 times to 7 but were unable to convert that effort into scoreboard pressure. This enabled Fremantle to keep in touch with Nat Fyfe, Shane Kersten and Brad Hill contributing to Freo’s first quarter goals. The game was pretty even for the first two quarters. The Giants were getting plenty of the ball via centre clearances and inside 50’s but again were unable to convert properly.
Heath Shaw on the run. He had an interesting exchange with teammate Aiden Corr post game. Photo: Jodie Newell
The third quarter is where Fremantle really threatened to take a hold of the game and cause an upset victory. They took advantage of the Giants inability to best make use of their opportunities. The Dockers booted 5 goals to the Giants 2 and held a very handy 15 point lead at the final break, thanks to a late Daniel Mundy goal. The seriousness of a loss to Freo snapped the Giants into action. They pressured Fremantle and used the ball much better. The GWS boys slammed on five goals and put the game quickly to bed much to the relief of the playing group, coaches and fans. A loss would have been disastrous in terms of gaining a double chance. It was the classic “winning ugly” game. The performance didn’t please Giants defender Heath Shaw who was visibly demonstrative with teammate Aiden Corr immediately after the siren.
A relieved GWS skipper in Phil Davis (middle) during the singing of the club’s song in the sheds. Photo: Jodie Newell
GWS coach Leon Cameron acknowledged post-game that it wasn’t the best of games from his side “We know we are not playing the level we want to get to.The fundamentals of the game are really hurting us at the moment”. Dockers coach Ross Lyon was reasonably pleased with the effort but disappointed at the final quarter effort “I thought at three-quarter time we ticked all those boxes and in the last quarter we couldn’t get it done”. The Giants (11 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws) break a two game losing streak and are now at 3rd spot on the ladder. They face a big challenge against Melbourne next week in Canberra on Saturday at Manuka Oval. Fremantle (7 wins, 11 losses) return home to play Gold Coast Suns on Saturday at Subiaco Oval.
GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron acknowledged it was an “ugly” win. Photo: Jodie Newell
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 3.5 6.7 8.11 13.20 (98)
FREMANTLE 3.3 6.6 11.8 13.8 (86)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Kennedy 2, Lobb 2, Patton 2, Scully, Cameron, Whitfield, De Boer, Haynes, Smith, Kelly
Fremantle: Kersten 3, Grey 2, Fyfe 2, B Hill, Suban, Hughes, Mundy, Ballantyne, Tucker
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: , Kelly, Coniglio Shiel, Whitfield
Fremantle: Fyfe, Neale, Kersten
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Will Setterfield (concussion)
Fremantle: Connor Blakely (shoulder)
Reports: –
Umpires: Mathew Nicholls, Justin Schmitt, Brent Wallace
Official crowd: 11,233 a the Sydney Showgrounds (Spotless Stadium)
