The Greater Western Sydney Giants gave the West Coast Eagles a lesson in efficiency as they posted a commanding victory at Giants Stadium today, winning 21.12 (138) to 13.8 (86).

The Giants blew the game open in the first half when they kicked 14 goals to five and while the Eagles applied higher intensity in the second half, it was almost academic with the game beyond redemption.

Tim Kelly, Jack Redden, captain Luke Shuey and Andrew Gaff put their shoulder to the wheel, but the precision kicking of the Giants was simply sublime.

Stephen Coniglio led the charge, with support coming from Harry Perryman, Josh Kelly and Tom Green as they racked up big numbers.

Again the Eagles fell away in the final term as they Giants re-established their hold on the game.

Both teams looked dangerous going forward in the first quarter, scoring with rapidity.

The Giants kicked the first four goals before the Eagles hit their stride – and the scoreboard – when Jamie Cripps snapped over his left shoulder to spark a run of three successive goals for the Eagles.

00:41

Cripps snaps two classy goals to lead Eagles' response

Jamie Cripps leads a first-quarter resurgence with two goals in a minute

He loomed dangerous and with captain Luke Shuey and Hugh Dixon looked dangerous inside the forward arc.

Unfortunately, the Giants were also threatening when penetrating the forward 50 with Matt DeBoer and Toby Greene each kicked two goals in a seven-goal term for the hosts, who led by 20 points at the first change.

It was a similar story in the second term where the Giant’s kicking efficiency was again a major factor as they rattled on another seven goals.

While the Eagles were getting their share of the ball, it was being sling-shot out of their forward half too easily and with little pressure being applied the Giants sliced their way through and created scoring opportunities from good positions.

In so many of the key statistical areas the Eagles competed with GWS, but the major deficiency came in the most important place of all – the scoreboard. And at half-time it did not make pretty reading at 14.3 (87) to 5.4 (34).

The Eagles continued to work hard in the third quarter, tightened up their team defence and won the quarter with a four-goal effort.

00:43

Winder starts the half off with a goal

Isiah Winder kicks his first goal of the game with a classy finish in the third term

Isiah Winder provided a couple of highlights with two clever goals while Greg Clark nailed his first goal at the level after marking just on the paint of the arc. 

Details
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 7.3 14.3 17.7 21.12 (138)
WEST COAST EAGLES 4.1 5.4 9.5 13.8 (86)

Goals

GWS: Peatling 3; Hogan, Greene, Bruhn, Sproule, Green, DeBoer 2; Green, Himmelberg, Riccardi, Wehr, Brander, Hill.

West Coast Eagles: Winder 3; Cripps, Waterman, Dixon 2; Shuey, Clark, Duggan, Darling.

Best

GWS: Perryman, Kelly, Coniglio, Himmelberg, Green, Ward.

West Coast Eagles: Kelly, Redden, Witherden, Jamieson, Winder, Cripps.

Crowd: TBC at Giants Stadium