AFL: Geelong deliver Giants big reality check
FORGET about all the talk of a GWS Giants’ premiership — their spot in the finals is no certainty.
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Geelong 14.9 (93) GWS 4.8 (32)
FORGET about all the talk of a GWS Giants’ premiership — their spot in the finals is no certainty.
The injury-hit side from Western Sydney last night suffered a humiliating 61-point loss to an equally understrength Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.
It was GWS’s biggest defeat since their 87-point loss to West Coast in round five 2015.
Their three-quarter time score of 2.7 (19) was their lowest ever.
What little possession the Giants picked up they butchered with a shocking 45 per cent disposal efficiency — more than 20 per cent below the AFL average and the seventh worst since Champion Data started recording that statistic.
Veteran Heath Shaw was the worst offender with a career low 35 per cent disposal efficiency; he normally averages 76.
The possibility of back to back wins for Sydney teams against the Cats was never likely as GWS struggled to mount any sort challenge from the outset.
Their entries inside forward 50 were diabolical as they continued to bomb the ball in without direction.
It was marking practice for Geelong defenders Tom Stewart, Mark Blicavs, Jake Kolodjashnij and Jack Henry.
Leon Cameron’s men took just two marks inside forward 50 to the Cats’ 17, but with the way the ball was being moved the terrible number was no surprise.
GWS were well down on personnel. Jon Patton was the only GWS player in the top seven goal kickers from last year, Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene, Josh Kelly, Rory Lobb and Tom Scully were all out injured and Devon Smith (Essendon) and Steve Johnson (Retired) were no longer at the club.
But they could have had Tony Lockett playing at full forward and even he would have still struggled to put up a decent score the service provided.
Dylan Shiel was the Giants best for the Giants winning 31 possessions and even he was wasteful with his disposals and executed poorly. Nick Haynes was gallant in defence taking 10 intercept marks.
Their record in Victoria is becoming alarming, they have one win from three this year against Collingwood in round 2, were 1-4 last year and 3-2 in 2016.
This year they have met only two finalists from last year (Geelong and Sydney) in their opening seven matches and been beaten by both. Their three wins have come against non-finalists the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Fremantle.
Sam Reid’s 50th game put him in the record books for the longest time between his debut and half century in the AFL era. The former Western Bulldog played his first game 2008 and had a two year break as an assistant coach for GWS between 2014 and 2015.
GEELONG 4.1 7.2 12.3 14.9 (93) GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.0 2.5 2.7 4.8 (32) Goals: Geelong: T Hawkins 4 E Ratugolea 2 P Dangerfield 2 S Crameri 2 C Gregson J Murdoch J Thurlow T Stewart. Greater Western Sydney: J Finlayson 2 C Ward D Lloyd.
Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Sam Hay, Dean Margetts.
Venue: GMHBA Stadium.