GIANTS break drought against Swans in fierce battle

The GIANTS have snatched a 25-point victory over Sydney in a thriller of a match at Blacktown International Sportspark on Sunday.

With the GIANTS leading for the entirety of the match, but threatened constantly by an undermanned Swans outfit, they were able to snap a six-game losing streak against the Swans with the 15.11 (101) 11.10 (76) win.

In preparation of this Round 10 clash, GIANTS coach Adam Schneider wanted his team to recognise the physicality of the Swans brand of footy.

“They love to tackle so we knew it was going to be a contested battled, we wanted to match them in that area,” he told neafl.com.au.

Both teams struggled to find their feet after the first bounce due to the dewy conditions but it was Ian 'Bobby' Hill who dribbled a goal along the ground in the first two minutes of the game to put the GIANTS the scoreboard first.

The GIANTS' defensive pressure was the highlight for the visiting side, keeping the Swans scoreless up until the 16th minute.

But they kept the margin to eight points at quarter-time, before the GIANTS extended the lead to 17 by the main break.

The Swans again cut the margin back to 11 points with two of the first three majors of the third term, but the GIANTS responded with a flurry of goals opening up a commanding 27-point lead at the final break.

The Swans - who fielded 12 AFL-listed players against the GIANTS' 16 - refused to lie down even when the GIANTS threatened to run away with the contest, clawing their way back within 14 points early in the last.

But ultimately, the GIANTS - led by young midfielder Jackson Hately (23 disposals, one goal) - simply had all the answers as they secured an important win.

Jack Buckley was also a key figure for the winners, booting one goal as well as collecting 20 disposals. 

Schneider is impressed with how his younger players are coming through the ranks, as they look towards a battle with Redland in Queensland next week.

“All we ask is for them to play their role and to better their footy. We are in good form so we are looking forward to getting away as a team (next week) and giving it our best shot.” He said.

The GIANTS will be looking to lock down their position in the top four when they come head to head with the Bombers at Jack Esplen Oval next Saturday.

Sydney Swans v GIANTS_­ at Blacktown International Sportspark

GIANTS 3.3 6.7 12.8 15.11 (101)
SYDNEY 2.1 4.2 8.5 11.10 (76)

GOALS – GIANTS: Z Langdon 3 C Edwards 2 M Flynn H Grant J Hately I Hill K Briggs D Buckley J Buckley M Buntine E Perryman N Shipley. Sydney: B Ronke 3 M Knoll 2 K McGrath 2 K McKellar D Cameron S Eynaud Z Foot.
BEST – GIANTS: J Buckley L Keeffe Z Langdon M Buntine X O’Halloran D Simpson. Sydney: T Pink S Wicks J Rowbottom K McKellar S Eynaud.

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