The Greater Western Sydney Giants are not bound to make huge inroads in 2012, their inaugural AFL season. That being said, they have showed promising signs so far.
They claimed their first victory as an AFL club on Saturday against the Gold Coast Suns at Manuka Oval, winning 13.16.94 to 9.13.67. In addition, they kept up with the premiership-promising Carlton side last week for three-quarters, but, unfortunately, were beaten handsomely in the end. The Giants have, without exaggeration, come of age in their short life in the AFL.
Sure, the Giants have had their share of hidings so far. The Sydney Swans smacked them to the tune of 63 points in the season’s opening round, losing 5.7.37 to 14.16.100 at Stadium Australia. In the second round, North Melbourne annihilated the newcomers by 129 points down at Bellerive Oval, winning 28.15.183 to 8.6.54.
Then, in the season’s third round, the Giants went down to West Coast by 81 points, with the score reading 10.9.69 to 23.12.150. Since then, however, they have been competitive, despite managing only one victory.
Against the Adelaide Crows in round four, they only went down by 46 points in the city of churches, losing 7.8.50 to 13.18.96. They were just as competitive the week after, losing to the Western Bulldogs, at home, by 42 points, with the scoreboard saying 9.8.62 to 15.14.104 at the end.
Their loss to Carlton, despite being to the tune of 67 points, was nowhere near disastrous for GWS, despite what the 15.20.110 to 6.7.43 score-line might suggest. They kept up with the highly fancied Carlton outfit, despite the odds.
GWS will not win the AFL premiership this year, but they certainly have won the hearts of AFL enthusiasts. Despite the small build and fumbling skills of some players in the Giants’s line-up, the boys from Blacktown are showing some promising signs early in AFL life.
By Chris Traficante