Peter Crossing is a Crows supporter who resides in Canberra. He has adopted Greater Western Sydney and enjoys the fact that they bring Australian football to Manuka, and that they do so with so much enthusiasm.

The roars and yells heard as we neared the ground did not mean the game had started early. Rather, an enthusiastic two-up session was in operation on the site of former Services Club next to StarTrack Oval. The old wooden building was gutted by fire in 2011 and the yearly gathering for two-up remains the only activity on the site while the powers-that-be decide on its future use.



Inside the ground, a simple but impressive ANZAC Day commemoration marked the start of proceedings. The game displayed the contrasting fortunes of the League’s newest teams.

Gold Coast kicked the opening goal and set a pattern that would continue each quarter – an enthusiastic start followed by a too soon fade under the pressure exerted by Greater Western Sydney at the stoppages and in play around the ground.

The GIANTS players attacked the ball desperately at all times. Man-mountain Shane Mumford, who wastes not a drop of energy in the pre-match warm up, was strong in the ruck contests and Tom Scully and Callan Ward displayed their usual direct, no-nonsense approach in gathering the hard ball and putting it to advantage.

The GIANTS linked together well and an orange wave led by the hard running of Dylan Shiel, Ryan Griffen, Devon Smith and Nick Haynes would surge into attack. The play of the match - Shiel to Treloar to Griffen to Stewart to McCarthy – Goal. Shiel played a blinder.



The GIANTS were soon well ahead in all departments and only kicking blemishes in front of goal prevented a debacle. The third quarter was a case in point. GWS kicked 4.10 with some of their efforts resembling the round ball game – grubbered shots resulting in a behind together with an amazing scissor kick attempt at goal from Jeremy Cameron that was straight from the Tim Cahill manual of acrobatic achievement. It just missed.

For team that has been pumped in the direction of up by their chairman and who had gone so close to defeating Geelong last week, Gold Coast were very disappointing. They obviously miss the talents of Gary Ablett and Jaeger O’Meara but many players appeared to be waiting for someone else in the team to show them the way. Dion Prestia and Michael Rischitelli were workmanlike all night, but the efforts of most were spasmodic and somewhat ill directed. Even Charlie Dixon, best afield at the last StarTrack Oval encounter between these two teams, seemed below par.

Rhys Palmer celebrated his100th game of AFL football in fine style. His on-going development as a player epitomises the wisdom in the GIANTS' recruiting and the team appears more balanced with every outing. In defence, the experience of Joel Patfull and the marking ability and dash of Nick Haynes complement the close checking of Phil Davis and the instinctiveness of Heath Shaw.

Skipper Davis’ approach is so far removed from that of a “Show Pony” as suggested by one hard-core Melbourne supporter in the crowd at the previous StarTrack Oval game. The awareness and enthusiastic example set by Shaw cannot be underestimated, as shown by his willingness to run the length of the ground to congratulate Cameron after a goal. In attack, Cam McCarthy improves with each game and his solid marking complements the mercurial Cameron. The aforementioned mid-field oozes with flair and commitment.

In similar manner to the second half of the Melbourne match, this was an inspired performance from the GIANTS. And now they’re second on the ladder! However, things need to remain in perspective as greater challenges lie ahead.



And, a sight not seen before at a GIANTS match at StarTrack Oval. Taking the example of the Bangladesh supporters at the recent World Cup cricket match, a procession of about a dozen Giants supporters danced along concourse (there was plenty of room) half way through the third quarter. The group chanted and waved banners in exuberant celebration. Bringing up the rear, a little bloke carrying a huge flag showed commendable determination to keep up with his mates.

More GWS stories, and other fan-writing can be found on the GIANTS page at www.footyalmanac.com.au

More GWS stories, and other fan-writing can be found on the GIANTS page at www.footyalmanac.com.au - See more at: http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/2015-04-13/your-say-a-game-of-two-halves#sthash.UPvlknuu.dpuf