Gold Coast defeats Greater Western Sydney in dull affair at Metricon Stadium

GOLD Coast coach Guy McKenna said victory - not draft picks - was the only thing that mattered last night.

GOLD Coast coach Guy McKenna said victory - not draft picks - was the only thing that mattered last night as the Suns avoided the wooden spoon and claimed their first-ever win at Metricon Stadium with a 30-point over GWS.

Much of the build-up to the clash between the cellar dwellers centered around the tanking issue with the loser set to finish last and claim wunderkind Lachlan Whitfield in the AFL draft.

But McKenna said the four premiership points was the only goal as the Suns booted five unanswered majors to start the third quarter to all but seal a precious win.

The Giants closed to within 17 points late in the final quarter but the home side held on to spark unprecedented scenes at Carrara that included fireworks and the first airing of the club song.

"We picked our best 22. Why? Because we wanted to win, we wanted to build confidence, we wanted to give our
supporters something to hang their hats on,'' McKenna said.

"The draft says you'll get a pick at some stage. We'll take that pick but we've got enough good young kids.

"What we haven't got is wins at home and confidence and belief in what we are trying to set ourselves up for in the future.

"It's about winning and creating a winning culture. Its (the past two seasons) probably going to the darkest era of this football club and when the tide turns its going to become a powerhouse.''

McKenna also announced that star onballer David Swallow will not play for the rest of the year due to a knee injury. He collected 24 touches last night and will now be rested.

Stephen Coniglio and Jacob Townsend were late withdrawals for the Giants to take the number of changes from
the side that beat Port Adelaide last weekend to eight while veteran Luke Power was made the substitute.

GWS coach Kevin Sheedy dismissed the tanking issue and said the wholesale changes were part of the club's player management plan.

He said he had not given up hope of avoiding the wooden spoon and said next week's game against Melbourne in Canberra was winnable.

"I think that (tanking) is great for you people to write. . . in reality I struggle where a lot people talk about tanking. I always have. It's quite amazing,'' he said

"In the end it was a terrific game of football.

"We could have won the game if we played four quarters but we didn't, in fairness to Gold Coast, they did. . . I like their flair, they were good.''

Sheedy defended the decision to make Power the substitute, saying it was designed to help the former Brisbane
Lion reach his 300th game next weekend.

Power finished with 17 touches in just over a quarter. He replaced Israel Folau who had one disposal.

"He gets annoyed about it. I said,'well bad luck, I'm the coach and you're the sub. When you've got 1000 games
you can say that because you've only got 299','' Sheedy said.

"He'll run out there next week starting. It's his 300th game. The Giants helped him get there, the Giants, not Brisbane.''

Brandon Matera was the Gold Coast's best when the game was in the balance and finished with 22 touches and two goals while Gary Ablett was influential with 23 disposals and three goals.

Adam Treloar had a game-high 32 disposals for GWS while Will Hoskin-Elliott booted five goals for the Giants.