Western shootout: Gritty Giants outlast Eagles in end-to-end thriller

Greater Western Sydney have taken a big step towards the AFL’s top eight, winning a thrilling shootout against West Coast by 16 points.

There were an incredible 13 lead changes in a Sunday afternoon classic at Giants Stadium as two injury-hit teams with September ambitious threw what they had at each other.

Jeremy Finlayson of the Giants kicks one of his hat-trick of goals at GIANTS Stadium.Credit:Getty

The 13.15 (93) to 11.11 (77) win takes the Giants to eighth on the ladder on percentage, snapping a four-match winless run against the Eagles, who slumped to their fourth defeat outside of Perth this year.

The two big questions facing GWS heading into this match were answered emphatically. The leadership vacuum left by Toby Greene’s shoulder injury was filled brilliantly by Kelly, who had 25 touches, and an equal game-high eight tackles and seven clearances.

And as for who was going to kick their goals in the absence of Greene, the answer was simple: everyone. The load was spread evenly, with Jeremy Finlayson booting three, ruckman Matt Flynn kicking the first two of his career, while Hill, the energetic Zach Sproule and the brilliant Tom Green all had a pair each.

In the end, the Giants had 101 more touches of the footy than the Eagles, and nearly double the number of tackles: 76 to 42.

The Eagles kicked the opener after just two minutes, when Jack Petrucelle latched onto a beautiful set-up kick from Liam Ryan to stroll into an open goal. The Giants responded with the next two – and from then until midway through the third term, it was literally goal for goal.

Josh Kelly attempts to close down Oscar Allen of the Eagles. Credit:Getty

Each time West Coast conjured up something in attack, usually by spotting up a target inside 50, GWS’s incessant forward pressure squeezed out a response.

But for a late behind to Jack Buckley, the half-time scoreboard would have perfectly reflected the deadlock that had unfolded on the ground. Instead, the home side went into the sheds ahead by the most slender of margins, one point.

The stats sheet told the story in another way: the Eagles were up by seven for marks inside 50, while the Giants had laid on 25 more tackles. Wildly varying methods yielded remarkably similar results.

The pattern of the match was finally broken 17 minutes into the third quarter, when Lachie Whitfield followed up Finalyson’s snap goal from a mark directly in front. It gave the Giants an 11-point lead – the biggest of the afternoon – and one they deserved after a largely dominant term.

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