Territory Thunder outplayed and out bumped in big loss to classy GWS Giants outfit

TERRITORY’S Thunder’s NEAFL season of woe continued last night when a bigger and more efficient GSW Giants side beat them by 56 points.

Ben Rioli was a solid contributor in Thunder’s big loss to the GWS Giants. Picture: Felicity Elliott.

TERRITORY’S Thunder’s NEAFL season of woe continued last night when a bigger and more efficient GSW Giants side beat them by 56 points.

The 16.13 (109) to 7.11 (53) loss was Thunder’s 12th in 13 outings this season, their worst record in 11 seasons in the QAFL/NEAFL competition.

Thunder did not help themselves with two posters in the first quarter, Nigel Lockyer Jr and prolific ballgetter Abe Ankers hitting the uprights with shots from a long way out.

Injuries to classy defender Daniel Weetra before halftime and Dylan Barry early in the third also stalled their progress.

The Giants’ vision and disposal skills were exceptional and typical of players at an elite level with their ability to size up a situation when in possession and make maximum use of it.

Midfielder Jackson Hately was a case in point, picking up 18 possessions in the first half and a cleverly taken goal as the Giants ran to a 46-point lead at the main break.

Liam Delahunty’s three first half goals and two each to Harry Grant and Zach Sproule were all the result of superb foot passing from players further up the ground.

Joint Thunder skipper Ankers and Banks utility Cohen Thiele worked hard in the first two quarters, Ankers turning provider by hitting goalkicker Brodie Carroll on the chest with two foot passes that resulted in goals.

But Thunder were given no space to run and often had two or three Giants against them when they went near the ball.

And while the Giants played smart football rather than anything over technical, everything they did was performed with maximum efficiency.

Their ability to run in numbers, find space with run and carry and create a spread Thunder found hard to contain ensured they were always in control of the contest.

Tiwi Bomber Jeffrey Simon’s first goal in a Thunder jumper was a rare highlight for the home side.

Jeffrey won a contentious free kick with the timekeeper’s finger about to press the three quarter time siren and subsequently goaled from the square when the Giants defenders went over the top with their interpretation of the free.

GWS GIANTS 5.2 11.3 13.11 16.13 (109)

NT THUNDER 1.3 3.5 4.7 7.11 (53)

BEST — Giants: J Hately J Caldwell L Squire N Shipley L Delahunty. Thunder: A Ankers C Thiele B Rioli J Hannath N Paredes.

GOALS — Giants: H Grant 4 L Delahunty 3 Z Sproule 3 A Bonar 2 K Briggs J Peatling J Hately J Moen. Thunder: B Carroll 3 N Paredes 2 J Simon J Stevens.