THE PRESSURE will be ramped up on Richmond coach Damien Hardwick after the Tigers were handed an 88-point flogging by Greater Western Sydney in Canberra on Saturday.

The Tigers were restricted to their lowest score in 55 years as Greater Western Sydney ran out easy 17.9 (111) to 3.5 (23 ) winners at a sold-out Manuka Oval.

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In front of a record crowd of 14,974, the Giants kicked eight goals to none in the opening quarter on their way to reclaiming second spot on the ladder.

The big win crucially lifted their percentage to 142 to open up a considerable gap over fellow top-four rivals Geelong, Sydney Swans, West Coast and Adelaide.

The only concern for the Giants is the fitness of tall forward Rory Lobb, who left the ground at the end of the third quarter with a lower leg injury.

Five talking points: Greater Western Sydney v Richmond

Hardwick said the Giants showed why they're premiership contenders.

"They're a Lamborghini aren't they?," Hardwick said.

"They're an incredible side.

"You look at their talent across the board and it's superior.

"We've got some worries, they've got no concerns at all."

Apart from full-back Alex Rance, who was brilliant in a beaten team with 26 possessions and nine marks, the Tigers were no match for the Giants.

Brownlow Medal fancy Dustin Martin collected 28 possessions, but didn't have an impact on the contest.

Steve Johnson, Sam Reid and Toby Greene all kicked three goals for the Giants.

Ruckman Shane Mumford was influential around the ground while midfielders Stephen Coniglio (33 disposals), Tom Scully (30) and Dylan Shiel (25) found plenty of the ball.

Harrison Himmelberg and Nathan Wilson were also excellent in providing run off the backline.

Greene and Johnson kicked a couple of goals each as the Giants piled on seven consecutive majors to start the game.

It wasn't until Sam Lloyd's behind at the 25min mark that the Tigers troubled the scoreboard.

The 51 points was the largest first quarter in Giants' history surpassing the 7.3 they kicked against Hawthorn in round six this year.

Giants coach Leon Cameron was thrilled with how his side dominated the contest.

"I didn't see the first quarter coming but when that comes around, it only comes around now and again, you take it," Cameron said.

"You also don't come to a game thinking you're going to keep the opposition to three goals.

"I thought defensively we were really, really good and it's not just the back seven, I thought our midfielders played some good defence and our forwards really locked the ball inside 50."

Riewoldt finally got Richmond's opening goal of the game at the seven-minute mark of the second quarter, but the margin was still 50 points.

A beautiful snap from Devon Smith from the left pocket moments before the half-time siren capped a terrific 11-goal first half from the Giants.

The Giants had 11 marks to one inside 50 in the first half as their forwards did whatever they wanted against the Tigers' defenders.

MEDICAL ROOM
Greater Western Sydney: The Giants will be sweating on the fitness of tall forward Rory Lobb, who left the ground at the end of the third quarter with a lower leg injury.
Richmond: The Tigers didn't have any injuries to report.

NEXT UP
The Giants complete their four-week stretch of interstate games when they take on Gold Coast on Saturday, while the Tigers have a six-day turnaround ahead of Friday night's clash with Collingwood at the MCG.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY   8.3    11.5    13.7   17.9 (111)
RICHMOND                                 0.1      1.2      3.4     3.5 (23)

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Johnson 3, Reid 3, Greene 3, Scully 2, Cameron 2, Ward, Shiel, Kennedy, Smith
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Lloyd 

BEST 
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio, Scully, Shaw, Mumford, Johnson, Shiel, Wilson
Richmond: Rance, Riewoldt, Ellis, Martin 

INJURIES 
Greater Western Sydney: Lobb (ankle)
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil 

Umpires: Harris, Fleer, Jeffery 

Official crowd: 14,974 at Manuka Oval