The GIANTS took a step forward in their development at Monarch oval, Campbelltown today, winning the clubs first ever practice match. In blistering heat, the GIANTS took on a combined AFL Sydney representative side.
The match was split into four 14-minute quarters with a short break in the middle of each quarter as a way to combat the heat.
Curtly Hampton, a 17 year old from Alice Springs, kicked the GWS GIANTS inaugural goal, booting the ball from 40 meters out, at the five-minute mark of the match.
Hampton was selected for the AFL Indigenous All Stars team, who were scheduled to play in Alice Springs on Friday night, before being cancelled due to a dangerous weather forecast.
When asked how it felt to kick the first ever match goal for the GIANTS, Hampton was modest, saying, “I knew someone was coming at me from behind so I had to kick it quickly. I didn’t think about it much until after the game but I suppose it’s pretty special. I think that I would be more excited to kick the first goal in an AFL match for the GIANTS”.
East Coast Eagles’ Jamie Vlatko kicked the first goal for Sydney AFL. The GIANTS fell behind for the remainder of the first quarter and looked like they would go into the quarter time break well behind until Anthony Miles reignited the GIANTS just before the quarter time siren, kicking a goal to leave the GIANTS trailing by only a point.
Sydney AFL’s Jamie Vlatko kicked the first goal in the second quarter to give the representative side a greater lead. Half way through the second, Jeremy Cameron marked the ball in the goal square before kicking a goal to cheers from the GIANTS fans, bringing the score up to 19 all.
At half time the scores remained fairly even to both sides, with the GIANTS leading by a point, 5.2.32 to 5.1.31.
Isiah Stevens emerged as the only goal kicker from the third quarter, after Rohan Lilly took a spectacular mark for Sydney AFL but kicked a point. At the final break the GIANTS led 6.5.41 to 5.3.32.
The final quarter saw both teams begin to struggle with the sweltering heat, the GIANTS opting for ice vests and fans on the bench in an attempt to keep their players cool. Steve Clifton booted the first goal in the final quarter before Isiah Stevens kicked his third, running towards the goals to put the GIANTS up by 20 points.
Both sides displayed tremendous determination throughout the match, continuing to run, tackle and chase down the ball despite the sweltering conditions. The final score saw the GIANTS victorious but both teams should be commended for their efforts.
GIANTS coach Kevin Sheedy said that today’s practice match was a vital step towards his team’s development, heading into the NAB Cup at Blacktown Olympic Park on February 19.
“Today was a great opportunity for us to look at where we think our players can play. They may have been able to play in certain positions in the under 18s but we wanted to have a real mix today.
“We really wanted to get a good look at the talent base that our recruiters have selected,” Sheedy said.
When asked about how he thought the players feared in today’s blistering heat, Sheedy was optimistic about their efforts.
“We thought about taking the game away from the players but in the end playing the game was really good for us.
“I thought both teams were really terrific. We split the quarters into half a quarter with two- minute breaks, keeping them refreshed. Our medical staff and fitness staff have done the right thing there, to give these players every opportunity,” he said.
Sheedy said that the club was looking to take what they learnt today into the GIANTS NAB Cup match on February 19.
“It was good to get them out there. You have to start somewhere. It’s the first step, it’s the right step for us to play this game, and we’re going down to Canberra next week, which will be another important step.
“You learn so much from these games, in particular for young players in their first few games
together,” he said.
Sheedy was also enthusiastic about the number of supporters who had made the effort to come down and watch the practice match and the efforts of the opposing side.
“I thought there was a terrific crowd here. To come down and watch an AFL game at 4.30 in the afternoon when the heat is pushing 43 degrees, I was really pleased with the turn out. I think a lot of families were here and local people from Campbelltown.
“I think the Sydney AFL side did really well, particularly when they wouldn’t have trained together a lot. There’s a fair bit of talent there. I think that would have been a good hit out for them to see where their players are at for rep selection later in the year,” he said.
GWS GIANTS 8.7.55
Sydney AFL 7.4.46
Bests for GIANTS
Gerald Ugle, Dylan Shiel, Steve Clifton, Isiah Stevens
Goal Kickers:
Isiah Stevens 3
Curtly Hampton 1
Anthony Miles 1
Jonathan Giles 1
Jeremy Cameron 1
Steve Clifton 1
