GREATER Western Sydney’s star forwards have combined to steer the Giants to a record-breaking 66-point victory at StarTrack Oval on Saturday night. 

The Giants eclipsed their greatest winning margin of 64 points against Melbourne in round 21 last season, beating the Suns 16.23 (119) to 7.11 (53).

Young forward Cam McCarthy starred for GWS with five goals while partner-in-crime Jeremy Cameron slotted four and should have had more. The 2013 All Australian finished with 4.6.

Five talking points: Greater Western Sydney v Gold Coast

The pair benefited from a dominant midfield led by Dylan Shiel, who had a game-high 39 touches, Tom Scully, Ryan Griffen and Callan Ward.

The Suns were totally outclassed after the first ten minutes, and if not for the Giants’ poor finishing in front of goal, the margin could have reached three figures.

The third term was particularly wasteful from the Giants; they booted 4.10 for the quarter with Cameron among the culprits, but coach Leon Cameron said although his side’s finishing was disappointing, he was happy with the effort of his two key forwards.

"I thought that was Jeremy’s best four-quarter performance. The challenge Jeremy has in his football is to get that 15 to 18 possessions every game, not just rely on six or seven and try and hit the scoreboard," Cameron said post-match.

"There’s no doubt Cam McCarthy has come on in leaps and bounds in his first four real games of AFL. His workrate is the most pleasing thing, for a 19-year-old kid to kick five goals is just terrific."

GWS ruckman Shane Mumford monstered his Gold Coast counterparts Tom Nicholls – who was a late inclusion – and Zac Smith, while defenders Nick Haynes, Joel Patfull and Phil Davis, were strong for the winners.

Gold Coast kicked the opening goal in each of the first three quarters but had trouble countering the Giants’ superb brand of running football. GWS kicked four goals in a row in the opening term, and repeated the feat in the second and third quarters.

Dion Prestia and Michael Rischitelli tried hard for Gold Coast and won plenty of possessions; but it mattered little against the confident Giants, who had more players willing to work hard across all parts of the ground.

The Suns showed a lack of defensive effort for large parts of the match after a promising start, a trend that would have coach Rodney Eade frustrated.

The concerns are very real for Eade, just two-and-a-half years after club chairman John Witheriff declared the Suns would win a flag by the end of 2015.

"This was a bit of a setback today, a bit of a shock. I thought the resilience at times could be questioned," Eade said.

"Guys tried, but in the last half of quarters we seemed to fatigue, seemed to lose concentration.

"In the transition run, they’re as good as anyone at that, they’ve got some really elite runners in their team, and are certainly the best side we’ve played so far. It’s only four games in but they’ve got a really bright future."

Eade believes unlike GWS, who have added older players such as defenders Heath Shaw and Joel Patfull in the past two years, his young side lacks leadership; especially with captain Gary Ablett missing.

“We’re working hard on that, we’re trying to develop that as quickly as we can. But getting some players who have played 100-150 games certainly helps the younger players,” Eade said.

The club will finish round four anchored to the bottom of the ladder alongside cross-town rivals the Brisbane Lions.


Joel Patfull fends off Brandon Matera on Saturday night in Canberra. Picture: AFL Media. 

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY  4.4  8.8  12.18  16.23  (119)
GOLD COAST                              1.2  4.6   5.8     7.11    (53)

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: McCarthy 5, Cameron 4, Treloar, Smith 2, Stewart, Greene, Shiel
Gold Coast: Dixon 2, Martin, Swallow, Matera, Bennell, Smith

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Shiel, Coniglio, Treloar, McCarthy, Cameron, Mumford, Griffen
Gold Coast: Prestia, Rischitelli, Swallow, Miller

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Seb Tape (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Tom Nicholls
Gold Coast: Martin (ankle), Lemmens (hip)

SUBSTITUTES
Greater Western Sydney: Josh Kelly replaced Lachie Whitfield at three-quarter time
Gold Coast: Matt Shaw replaced Jack Martin in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Foot, Schmitt, Kamolins

Official crowd: 6,917 at Startrack Oval, Canberra