TALKING POINTS: injuries hit both teams, and how long does it take to build a rivalry?
1. How long does it take to build a rivalry?
There is no doubt having two teams in Sydney is great for football in the city. There was a little spite in the build-up to Sunday's game and the Swans appeared switched on for GWS' first visit to the SCG. The upstart Giants certainly don't lack confidence, with their pre-match banner reading: "Good old Swans, can you hear the sound? The west of Sydney, on your ground". Unfortunately there was very little orange in the 21,757-strong crowd. The rivalry will grow, with the Giants' first win against the established Swans likely the result needed for it to really take off.
2. Swans injury concerns mount
The Sydney Swans entered the game with Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Adam Goodes, Sam Reid, Lewis Jetta and Rhyce Shaw, among others, on the injury list. Another key player may have reluctantly joined that club on Sunday after Ben McGlynn appeared to hurt his leg in the first half. McGlynn was substituted off at half-time and looked a disappointed man on the bench with his tracksuit top on and ice on his left leg.
GWS was forced to introduce substitute Shaun Edwards much earlier than coach Kevin Sheedy would have planned when Tom Scully suffered a head knock in the first quarter and donned the red vest. Scully, 22, has been among the Giants' better performers so far in 2013 and is likely to vie for best-and-fairest honours at the end of the season. In addition to being battered on the scoreboard, Phil Davis, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Rhys Palmer also looked sore at the end of the game.
4. JC destined for stardom
Once again in a well beaten team, Jeremy Cameron starred for the Giants, earning plaudits on radio from Robert Walls. Kicking three goals for the game, Walls gave the 20-year-old a rave review. "He's kicked 39 goals this season in a team that hasn't won a game," Walls said. "He's far and away their best player and he'll get better. He's got a really good football build, he's an accurate set shot and he's tough. That's what I like about him." Surprisingly, Cameron is only the sixth-ranked Giant in the Official AFL Player Ratings, but that is likely to change in the coming weeks.
5. Swans build a buffer
With teams above and below the Sydney Swans already posting victories in round 16, Sunday's big win means the reigning premiers keep their place in the top four. The result lifts the Swans to 13 wins, a draw and three losses - a game and a half behind competition leaders Hawthorn and Geelong, who are both at 13-2, but ahead of Richmond and Collingwood at 10-5.
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