SUMMARY
Both teams head into round two with plenty to prove after suffering significant defeats to start the season. GWS was smashed by Adelaide on the road and looked anything but the premiership favourites, while the Suns were jumped in the QClash by the Lions and ended up losing by two points. The Giants lacked intensity and didn't handle the pressure placed on them by the Crows last week, and coach Leon Cameron will be stressing the importance of his team defence against Gold Coast, with Tom Lynch and Peter Wright giving the visitors two big targets inside 50. Gary Ablett, Touk Miller and Aaron Hall found plenty of footy against the Lions, and their midfield battle with Dylan Shiel, Josh Kelly, and Callan Ward will be great to watch.
WHERE AND WHEN: Spotless Stadium, Saturday, April 1, 4.35pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R20, 2016, Greater Western Sydney 14.8 (92) d Gold Coast Suns 13.6 (84) at Metricon Stadium
R8, 2016, Greater Western Sydney 22.17 (149) d Gold Coast Suns 9.4 (58) at Spotless Stadium
R16, 2015, Greater Western Sydney 13.16 (94) d Gold Coast Suns 12.7 (79) at Metricon Stadium
R4, 2015, Greater Western Sydney 16.23 (119) d Gold Coast Suns 7.11 (53) at Manuka Oval
R6, 2014, Gold Coast Suns 20.14 (134) d Greater Western Sydney 13.16 (94) at Metricon Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Giants had more disposals, laid more tackles, took the ball Inside 50 more, and had 11 more clearances when the sides last played. Shane Mumford dominated the ruck with 51 hit-outs and Jeremy Cameron kicked four goals.
2. The Giants were beaten all over the ground in round one against Adelaide; losing the disposals, marks, tackles, had 16 fewer scoring shots and took the ball inside 50 18 fewer times.
3. The Giants and Suns will clash for the 10th time with GWS holding a narrow advantage, five wins to four; there have been some blow-outs with three decided by more than 80 points.
4. In round one against the Brisbane Lions; the Suns had more scoring shots and had an amazing 32 more inside 50s, but somehow still lost.
5. This is the Giants' first game at Spotless Stadium in 2017; last season they won six of nine games with four by more than 60 points. Gold Coast struggled badly outside of Queensland in 2016 losing eight of nine games.
6. GWS midfielders Dylan Shiel (19), Callan Ward (21), Ryan Griffen (73), Tom Scully (78), Stephen Coniglio (87), and Josh Kelly (94), are all ranked inside the top 100 of the AFL's official player ratings, with Aaron Hall (96) the Suns' sole representative.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR…
Phil Davis and Adam Tomlinson, who will likely share the huge task of stopping Gold Coast co-captain Tom Lynch. The key forward led the League for contested marks last season and kicked 66 goals, so will need to be well held by the Giants' best tall defenders.
PREDICTION: Greater Western Sydney by 21 points.
