Suns AFLW: The Suns have fallen just short of their maiden AFLW win today against GWS

The GWS Giants have held off an impressive Gold Coast Suns AFLW outfit to claim their first victory of the 2020 AFLW season.

THE GWS Giants have held off an impressive Gold Coast Suns AFLW outfit to claim their first victory of the 2020 AFLW season.

In their league debut, it was the Suns who quickly gained respect in newfound surroundings after controlled the first quarter and drawing first blood early.

Former Giant Brittany Perry had a fond return to Sydney, calmly gathering a ground ball in the forward half before steadying to convert on the run from 25m out.

While the weather held off, the Suns impressed with their overlap run and structure behind the ball to restrict the Giants to two points.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 08: Sally Riley of the Suns takes a mark during the round one AFLW match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Gold Coast Suns at Blacktown International Sportspark on February 08, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Former Carlton key forward Rebecca Privitelli, who has spent the last year working in the Giants front office, impressed with her contested marking prowess but could only manage one behind for her efforts after pushing her sole set shot wide.

Suns ruck Lauren Bella competed well against two prong Giants dup Jessica Allen and Erin McKinnon as the new kids took a six point lead into the first break.

The anticipated rain started to fall early at the start of the second quarter as the Suns structure behind the ball continued to ward of Giants attacks.

Suns debutant Jade Pregelj had tugged a shot on goal left while Giants enforcer Tanya Hetherington was strong behind the ball.

The Suns took a six point lead into half time but it was the Giants who dominated the third quarter.

The two prong inside midfield combination of Alyce Parker and Alicia Eva started to gain ascendency at the coalface as the Giants won the territory battle, locking the ball inside 50 without much reward.

As the intensity lifted, it was fourth year player Aimee Schmidt who rose to the occasion.

Marking 30m out in front of goal, she steered the kick home as rain continued to tumble at Blacktown.

Trailing 9-8 at the last break, Suns coach David Lake sent full forward and captain Leah Kaslar into the middle for the center bounce.

The move nearly paid off as a fearless Kaslar threw her weight around throughout the quarter as the Suns made one last tilt at their maiden win.

A quarter played largely between the arcs in front of a crowd of 1540, the Suns pushed forward in the closing minutes of the quarter but were unable to generate any clean inside 50 entries as the siren sounded with the expansion club caught one point shy of a historic win.

Parker, Eva, Privitelli and McKinnon were all impressive in the Giants 9-8 win while experienced AFLW duo Sam Virgo, Leah Kaslar and Jamie Stanton led the charge for the Suns.