TOBY Greene and his fellow Greater Western Sydney forwards have ridden the Orange Tsunami to a 28-point win over St Kilda in their clash at Norwood Oval.
After three straight wins and plenty of promising signs, the Saints were brought crashing back to earth for much of Sunday's Gather Round match.
SAINTS v GIANTS Full match coverage and stats
While they counter-punched with the only four goals of the final term, the damage had been done and GWS won 16.14 (110) to 12.10 (82).
Greene led the way with five goals in a best-afield performance and Jake Stringer, in his third game for the Giants, kicked his first two goals for the club.
In 30-degree-plus conditions on Sunday afternoon, the Giants were red-hot from midway through the first quarter and shut St Kilda out of the game.
Lachie Ash and Lachie Whitfield gave GWS ample drive off half-back, unleashing their trademark tsunami, while tagger Toby Bedford had an excellent game on Saints midfielder Jack Macrae.
Ash had a game-high 33 disposals and 563m gained.
Macrae had only 17 possessions, down on his output so far this season.
GWS kicked eight goals in the third term - their most prolific quarter of the year so far - to confirm the result with a 50-point break at the last change.
The Giants banner had a cheeky dig at the Saints, who had unsuccessfully tried to lure GWS young gun Finn Callaghan.
It read: "Two teams here looking for a win. By the way, how good is Finn!"
Saints defender Callum Wilkie worked hard all day on GWS key forward Jesse Hogan, who starred with nine goals last week.
Wilkie restricted Hogan to two majors, an impressive effort given the supply the Giants forwards had through the middle of the game.
Saints speedster Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera had his first multiple-goal game, with three, and was a feature of his side's final-term surge.
Saint's goal from the centre square
The footy world knows Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera is one of the best kicks in the competition and he showed why with a monster goal in the opening quarter. The running defender picked up an easy handball receive and launched one from the edge of the centre square, with the ball sailing over the goal umpire's hat and the boundary fence. It probably sailed at least 60m on the fly, one of three goals the star Saint kicked for the day.
Giants forwards hit top gear
It's hard to know where to look when the Giants are surging forward, either as a viewer or if you are an opposition defender. Coleman Medal winner Jesse Hogan has continued his hot form from last year so is an obvious target going forward, but with Aaron Cadman developing nicely and recruit Jake Stringer providing another threat, the Giants are never too Hogan-centric going forward. Throw in Jake Riccardi and Callum Brown, smalls Darcy Jones and Harvey Thomas (and the injured Brent Daniels) and the massive presence of Toby Greene, the Giants can kick goals from everywhere. And on Sunday, they did, with each of Greene, Hogan, Cadman and Stringer kicking multiples.
Irish Giant's rare Gaelic move
It wasn't exactly a goal assist, but Callum Brown very nearly produced a memorable moment as he went back to his roots in the third quarter. The Irishman used his foot to scoop the ball off the turf and into his hand, a move straight out of the Gaelic football playbook, with his smothered shot on goal leading to a major to teammate, Harvey Thomas.
ST KILDA 4.1 5.4 8.7. 12.10 (82)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.3 8.6 16.9 16.14 (110)
GOALS
St Kilda: Sharman 3, Wanganeen-Milera 3, Higgins 2, Sinclair, Wood, Hall, Byrnes
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 5, Stringer 2, Cadman 2, Hogan 2, Riccardi, Ward, Jones, Thomas, Wehr
BEST
St Kilda: Wanganeen-Milera, Sharman, Garcia, Sinclair
Greater Western Sydney: Greene, Ash, Kelly, Ward, Thomas, Green
INJURIES
St Kilda: Nil
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
St Kilda: Angus Hastie (replaced Lance Collard in the third quarter)
Greater Western Sydney: Toby McMullin (replaced Callum Brown in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 9,235 at Norwood Oval