GREATER Western Sydney has responded to an early challenge to maintain its dominant recent record over Gold Coast, with the home side winning by 83 points on Saturday afternoon.
In what was an uninspiring contest at times in perfect conditions, the Giants only led by five points at the first change but booted 15 goals to three for the rest of the match to win their seventh straight clash against the Suns 19.12 (126) to 6.7 (43).
The winners really let loose with the game in the bag when they piled on nine goals in the final term.
GIANTS CRUSH SUNS Full match coverage and stats
Gun midfielder Stephen Coniglio was the standout player of the game with 36 possessions, 13 marks, eight tackles, eight inside 50s and three goals.
Fellow midfielders Josh Kelly and Jacob Hopper were also outstanding for the Giants, as was in-form forward Jeremy Cameron, who finished the day with five goals.
Sam Reid was the pick of the GWS backline after he did a blanket job on dangerous Gold Coast forward Alex Sexton.
Sexton had kicked 21 goals coming into round 11 but managed just one major, which came late in the last quarter, from five possessions.
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Ruckman Jarrod Witts won his physical battle with Shane Mumford to be his team's best, while Lachie Weller, Darcy MacPherson and Brayden Fiorini tried hard.
Ben King with his first goal in AFL Football!#AFLGiantsSuns pic.twitter.com/6Sbl8bO9Y8
— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) June 1, 2019
Leon Cameron's side had beaten Gold Coast by a combined 301 points in their past three matches at Giants Stadium, but under Stuart Dew the visitors continued their improved defensive work and held sway in contested possessions and clearances in the opening term.
The Suns continued to make the match a scrap in the second quarter but couldn't match the Giants when the home side had control of the footy, and mobile goalkickers Cameron, Jeremy Finlayson and Harry Himmelberg reaped the rewards.
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GWS booted the only two majors of the second term before addimg three more to begin the third to extend its advantage to 38 points.
Giants star Josh Kelly celebrates after kicking a goal against the Suns. Picture: AFL Photos
Wil Powell reduced his team's deficit to 31 points when he slotted a brilliant set shot from the boundary just after three-quarter time, but the Giants answered again with seven straight goals, three of those to Coniglio.
It was another disappointing performance from the Suns, who have now lost their past seven matches after such a positive start to the season.
MEDICAL ROOM
Giants: Lachie Whitfield copped a couple of heavy knocks and eventually headed to the rooms in the final term to get his right collarbone checked. He'll be one to watch next week.
Suns: Jack Bowes pinged his right quad when he had a shot for goal midway through the opening term and played no further part in the match.
Jack Bowes is done for the day after this kick for goal.#AFLGiantsSuns pic.twitter.com/U6AfBQqBVU
— AFL.com.au (@AFLcomau) June 1, 2019
NEXT UP
The Suns are at home to host a rejuvenated North Melbourne outfit in the Saturday twilight fixture, while the Giants take on the Crows in Adelaide later that night.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.2 6.5 10.7 19.12 (126)
GOLD COAST 3.3 3.4 4.7 6.7 (43)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 5, Coniglio 3, Himmelberg 3, Finlayson 2, de Boer 2, Hopper, Greene, Deledio, Kelly
Gold Coast: King, MacPherson, Swallow, Horlin-Smith, Powell, Sexton
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio, Cameron, Kelly, Hopper, Reid, de Boer
Gold Coast: Witts, Weller, Macpherson, Martin
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Whitfield (collarbone)
Gold Coast: Bowes (quad)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Ryan, Glouftsis
Official crowd: 7581 at Giants Stadium