Source : ABC NEWS
Frenetic pace at Sydney Showground
I’m not sure they can keep this up, but both sides are absolutely CHARGING at the ball right now.
The game is being played at breakneck pace, and there is no backing off the contests. It’s a solid start at Sydney Showground!
Liam Baker puts Eagles in front
This is good stuff from West Coast!
They are playing on with verve and energy, and making the Giants chase their tails.
The ball was surged forward, Liam Baker thumped it on over his head, then followed up in time to take the grab from a kick from the right side of 50.
He marked close in, and steered the ball home for West Coast’s second, as the visitors hit the front!
Jake Waterman answers for West Coast
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All right, the Eagles HAVE lifted!
That was a serious passage of play, on the burst through the middle with the ball fast and low on the bounce to Liam Baker, who handballed to the onrushing Jake Waterman.
Waterman’s set-shot woes are well known, but the Eagles spearhead showed he is fine on the run, kicking it off the outside of the boot through for West Coast’s opening goal.
Harvey Thomas gets the opener for GWS
The Eagles had the better of the opening minute, sending the ball inside 50 and putting pressure on the Giants defence.
But it broke down, and GWS broke down the right, with Josaia Delana finding Aaron Cadman at half-forward, then Cadman switched it into the middle for Harvey Thomas to mark 40 out.
And Thomas converts the set shot, as GWS hits the early lead!
That was a bit too easy on the break for the Giants.
Marcus Bontempelli managed
Why isn’t the Bont playing? I missed this one sorry
– Eunice
Eunice,
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has decided to manage Marcus Bontempelli and rest him for today, given the Bulldogs have already locked in a spot in the wildcard round.
Recent results between GWS and West Coast
- R10, 2026: West Coast by 17 (Perth Stadium)
- R17, 2025: GWS by 59 (Perth Stadium)
- R4, 2025: GWS by 81 (Sydney Showground)
- R2, 2024: GWS by 65 (Perth Stadium)
- R2, 2023: West Coast by 19 (Perth Stadium)
- R10, 2022: GWS by 52 (Sydney Showground)
The early days of this match-up were, as you might expect, heavily favouring West Coast, who won nine of the first 12 outings.
Since then, however, it has gone the other way with the Giants winning five of the last seven.
A quick scan of the results shows that when it’s close the Eagles seem to come out on top, but when GWS has their day, it’s usually a BIG day.
If the Giants are to have a chance of keeping their season alive, then they need one of those really big days to boost their percentage (before hoping Carlton loses later).
