Greater Western Sydney has thrashed the Adelaide Crows on Saturday afternoon, securing a dominant 59-point win at Adelaide Oval after a week of negative press.
The win will be welcomed by the Giants, especially under-fire coach Leon Cameron, who had gone 1-5 prior to this game.
Toby Greene was on fire from the first bounce, taking a brilliant pack mark and snapping truly to get the Giants on the board within the first two minutes. It set up the Giants co-captain for a big game, ending the contest with a haul of four goals in his second week back from suspension.
Josh Kelly also starred for the Giants, totalling a huge 41 disposals, 11 score involvements and eight clearances.
“Josh Kelly, 41 touches, was everywhere,” former Crow Bryce Gibbs told AFL Nation.
“(David King) put it on him during the week, he’s underperforming … well he answered that in spades today, he was best on ground by a mile.”
In what was a one-sided contest, Crows stand-in captain Brodie Smith provided the highlight with what will surely be a mark of the year contender.
However, the veteran landed on his head, with Crows’ fans and players alike looking concerned as he was stretchered off. He took no further part in the match.
Brodie Smith leapt for a massive mark but is receiving treatment after a heavy landing. #AFLCrowsGiants pic.twitter.com/xZBoNqQSrL
— AFL (@AFL) April 30, 2022
The moment was “spectacular and sickening all in the one motion,” Kelli Underwood told Fox Footy.
The Crows improved in the final term, but their lift came too late, with their efforts barely able to put a dint in the Giants' massive lead.
Adelaide will look to bounce back against Carlton at Marvel Stadium next Sunday, while the Giants play host to Geelong in Canberra next Saturday.
FULL SCORE
Greater Western Sydney: 5.4, 11.8, 14.10, 17.11 (113)
Adelaide Crows: 1.1, 2.3, 3.4, 8.6 (54)
GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: T Greene 4, J Hogan, S Coniglio, L Whitfield 3, H Himmelberg 2, T Taranto, B Hill
Adelaide Crows: T Walker 2, N McHenry, B Cook, B Keays, H Schoenberg, L Murphy, J Hately
BEST
Greater Western Sydney: T Greene, T Taranto, T Green, J Kelly, I Cumming
Adelaide Crows: T Walker, B Smith, R Laird, J Dawson, B Keays
INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: N/A
Adelaide Crows: B Smith (concussion), N McHenry (head)