- Nov 23, 2015
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GIANTS Dominate Swans for Big Win
The GIANTS have won the first ever NAB AFLW Sydney Derby at the SCG.
www.gwsgiants.com.au
The GIANTS have firmly established themselves as the big sister of the AFLW Sydney Derby, piling on the goals to defeat the Swans by 47 points at the SCG. In the first AFLW battle between the New South Wales teams, the seventh-season GIANTS spread the first-season Swans too thin in the 9.11 (65) to 2.6 (18) victory, recording their highest score in the process (previously 56 against Richmond in 2020).
The GIANTS' revamped gameplan under new coach Cam Bernasconi finally clicked into gear, burning the Swans on the outside and running hard for each other to create an overlap in attack, while also finding some patience for the occasional slow play. Fittingly, it was the inaugural AFLW No.1 pick Nicola Barr – a childhood Swan now a GIANT, through and through – who slotted the opening major after both sides had peppered the goals to no avail. GIANTS defender-turned-forward Georgia Garnett's stunning set shot from a tight angle took the margin to 25 at half-time, which followed Lexi Hamilton breaking through for the Swans' first.
The rain briefly came in the third term, but it didn't put off former Young Matilda Zarlie Goldsworthy, the bullocking GIANTS debutant slotting a classy goal on the run and kicking two for the game. Ally Morphett (18 hitouts, 13 disposals, five clearances) and Kate Reynolds were dominant in the ruck against Cambridge McCormick, but Alyce Parker (22 touches) and Emily Pease (16) helped the GIANTS balance out the clearance count with five apiece.
GIANT replacements stand up
The GIANTS' injury headaches have entered yet another season, losing three key players to long-term issues last weekend. In the absence of Tait Mackrill (foot) and Chloe Dalton (hamstring), Ally Dallaway and Emily Pease spent more minutes in the middle, with debutant Meghan Gaffney rotating on the wing alongside Alicia Eva and Maddy Brazendale. Annalyse Lister – who played on the wing against Brisbane last week – slotted into a more traditional defensive role to cover for Pepa Randall (ACL).
Up next
The GIANTS will be aiming for two on the trot, hosting West Coast at Giants Stadium.
SYDNEY 0.2 1.4 2.5 2.6 (18)
GIANTS 3.4 5.5 8.6 9.11 (65)
GOALS - GIANTS: Barr 2, Staunton 2, Goldsworthy 2, Pease, Garnett, Doyle
BEST - GIANTS: Parker, Brazendale, Pease, Eva, Garnett, Goldsworthy
INJURIES - GIANTS: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 4,233 at the SCG