EXTREME winds in Canberra have failed to derail Greater Western Sydney, with the Giants running out 31-point victors over Fremantle.
The football was scrappy during Saturday afternoon's round-four clash at UNSW Canberra Oval and goals never came easy, but GWS' power and class stood out in the 11.16 (82) to 7.9 (51) win.
Fremantle made the early running to go to the first break with a surprise nine-point lead, but the Giants powered away to a 3-1 record with seven goals to two during the second and third terms.
The Dockers hit back early in the final quarter through Brandon Matera's second goal and Bailey Banfield's first major of his young AFL career, but a brilliant snap from the dangerous Toby Greene midway through the final term steadied the Giants.
BATTLING WITH THE TAG: Five talking points
They stretched the margin to 19 points as rain started and helped thwart a Fremantle comeback.
Greene finished with two goals and played a key role in three others in a typically threatening display, while Giants co-captain Callan Ward ran riot with a dominant midfield performance.
Veteran Brett Deledio played his best game in Giants colours with 26 possessions, while defender Nick Haynes and star midfielders Stephen Coniglio and Dylan Shiel were in good touch.
BLOW WIND BLOW: Griffen's bizarre shot on goal
Former Western Bulldogs captain Ryan Griffen made an inspirational return after more than a year out of the Giants' team with persistent ankle injuries.
The 31-year-old made an immediate impact by kicking the first goal of the game and was swamped by his GWS teammates.
Griffen didn't have a lot of the ball but added another major at the start of the second quarter.
Jeremy Cameron sent a scare through the Giants camp when he hobbled to the bench in the second quarter but played out the game with a jarred knee to finish with two goals.
Giants coach Leon Cameron said his star forward would be looked after to ensure he played against St Kilda next Saturday.
He said his players were battered and bruised following the gruelling contest.
"I think both sides played better going into the wind," Cameron said.
"It was a tough day and our boys are pretty sore from the game. I thought we tackled pretty well when we needed to."
Lachie Neale, Stephen Hill and veteran David Mundy worked hard for the Dockers, while captain Nat Fyfe provided a highlight with a brilliant goal on the half-time siren.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon believed the game was lost in the Dockers' forward half as Fremantle couldn't capitalise on having three more inside 50s than the Giants.
"Haynes and (Heath) Shaw were really good on our young forwards who got lost in tough conditions and that allowed (GWS) to shift the ball out quite well," Lyon said.
"We fought on and gave ourselves an opportunity (in the last quarter) so there's some good learnings in that."
MEDICAL ROOM
GWS: Jeremy Cameron looked sore and had an issue with his left leg but played out the match, so he'll need to be monitored this week.
Fremantle: Young midfielder Ed Langdon (illness) was a late withdrawal but should be right to play next week.
NEXT UP
The Giants are back in Melbourne next Saturday afternoon to take on St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, while the Dockers return to Optus Stadium to welcome the Western Bulldogs to Perth later that night.
BANFIELD BREAKS HIS DUCK: A first AFL goal for Dockers tagger
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.5 5.9 8.14 11.16 (82)
FREMANTLE 3.1 5.2 5.6 7.9 (51)
GOALS
GWS: Cameron 2, Griffen 2, Greene 2, Hopper, Coniglio, Taranto, de Boer, Lloyd
Fremantle: Matera 2, Sandilands, S. Hill, Fyfe, Banfield, Mundy
BEST
GWS: Ward, Haynes, Coniglio, Hopper, Greene, Taranto, Deledio
Fremantle: S. Hill, Neale, Mundy, Sandilands, Banfield
INJURIES
GWS: Davis (cut chin)
Fremantle: Ed Langdon (illness) replaced in the selected side by Darcy Tucker
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Hosking, Rosebury
Official crowd: 11,356 at UNSW Canberra Oval
