Greater Western Sydney has recorded a historic victory on Sunday afternoon, defeating Collingwood by 13 points at Olympic Park Oval.
The Giants fought back from a one-point deficit at three-quarter time to win their first game of the season and their second in the club's two-season history.
GWS were led brilliantly by former Magpie Alicia Eva who had 23 disposals and Courtney Gum, who gathered the ball 15 times and kicked two big goals to help her side over the line.
The Magpies are now rooted to the bottom of the ladder and sit without a win from three games after succumbing to a late flurry from the Giants who were able to close out the game.
The contrast between the two sides was highly evident on the final stat-sheet, with the Giants recording 37 inside 50s to Collingwood’s 17.
While this statistical discrepancy would generally indicate a whitewash, the Pies remained in the contest for most of the game.
Collingwood got off to a flyer, with Brittany Bonnici kicking a brilliant goal to open Collingwood’s scoring account.
Bonnici was followed up superbly by her skipper, Steph Chiocci, with the home side taking a 14-point lead into the first change.
The Giants, however, finished the second quarter strongly with two late goals from Aimee Schmidt, which put the away side in the lead at the main change as the Giants took full control.
Had it not been for wayward kicking from their Irish import, Cora Staunton, the game could have been painting a much different picture.
Staunton kicked three behinds in the second quarter and was unlucky to finish without a major to her name.
The away side continued to put their foot on the Magpies’ throat going into the third quarter as Phoebe McWilliams extended their lead.
But a major to Jess Duffin and some magic from recalled Pies forward, Moana Hope, got the Magpies back into the ascendancy heading into the final change.
Some brilliance again from Gum gave the Giants a seven-point advantage thanks to two brilliant goals of her own.
But the lead was pulled back to a single point after Hope received a 50m penalty and slotted her second, bringing the margin back to a solitary point midway through the final term.
It was late goals from Jacinda Barclay and McWilliams which soon after put the game to bed and sent the Magpies packing into round four without a single victory to their name.
Their season all but over, the Magpies will face Melbourne, and will be taking inspiration from the Dockers following their five-point victory over the premiership favourites.
The Giants conversely, fresh off their victory, will be aiming to carry their momentum forward when they face Adelaide on Sunday afternoon.
COLLINGWOOD 2.3 2.4 4.5 5.5 (35) GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 0.1 2.6 2.6 7.6 (48)
GOALS Collingwood: Hope 2, Bonnici, Chiocci, Duffin Greater Western Sydney: Schmidt 2, Gum 2, McWilliams 2, Barclay
BEST
Collingwood: Bonnici, King, Molloy, Duffin, Hope
Greater Western Sydney: Eva, Gum, McWilliams, Farrugia, Staunton
Comments