Giants destroy Richmond Tigers to return to top twoJon TuxworthGREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 8.3 11.5 13.7 17.9 (111)
RICHMOND 0.1 1.2 3.4 3.5 (23)
GOALS –
Greater Western Sydney: Johnson 3, Reid 3, Greene 3, Cameron 2, Scully 2, Kennedy, Ward, Shiel, Smith.
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Lloyd.
BEST –
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio, Shaw, Shiel, Scully, Mumford, Johnson, Greene.
Richmond: Rance, Martin, Cotchin, Riewoldt, Ellis.
INJURIES – Greater Western Sydney: R Lobb (ankle).
UMPIRES: Jeffery, Harris, Fleer.
CROWD 14,974 at Manuka Oval.
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The Greater Western Sydney Giants' pre-game mantra before destroying Richmond in Canberra on Saturday was short but clear – "go harder for longer".
The question they've now answered is that on their day, this team is certainly capable of doing just that when the bigger challenges come in September.
An ankle injury to ruckman Rory Lobb suffered in a marking contest against Ty Vickery in the third term was the only downside for the Giants as Richmond rewrote the history books for all the wrong reasons.
Lobb didn't return for the final term after limping off when Vickery stood on his left ankle, which may sour a comprehensive Giants win. He left the ground in a moon boot and on crutches, and will have scans on Sunday.
Richmond's meagre total of 3.5 (23) was their equal sixth-lowest in their 108-year history, their lowest in 55 years, and only three times have they tallied fewer scoring shots than their horror afternoon in Canberra.
But were the Tigers that bad, or the Giants that good? Richmond coach Damien Hardwick insists it's the latter.
"They're a Lamborghini, aren't they, they're an incredible side there's no doubt," he said. "You look at their talent across the board, it's superior. We've got some worries, they've got no concerns at all at this stage.
"It's great for GWS and Sydney footy but is it great for the competition when ... jeez they're just bloody good.
"They were incredibly impressive today. Their ability to cover the ground was the best I've seen, they were very good inside and outside."
Their first quarter, which set up a sixth win in seven games for GWS to rocket them back to second on the ladder, was about as clinical as it gets.
It was the Giants' highest scoring first quarter in the club's short history, a 51-to-1 bloodbath which eclipsed the 45 they piled on Hawthorn in their round six win at Homebush.
Their rebounding from half-back proved too much for the Tigers to handle as an orange wave constantly swept through the middle of the field.
Their attack on the ball and willingness to run into space was relentless in the opening term and the Tigers, who managed just one mark inside 50 for the entire first half, were powerless to stem the tide.
Richmond made adjustments to stop the Giants' midfield attack in the second quarter but in essence it was more damage limitation than any realistic attempt to turn the game into a contest.
Their only first-half joy was a dribbled goal to Jack Riewoldt, the only Tiger who looked capable of challenging Greater Western Sydney's back six.
Before the game began the Giants banner screamed: "This is our fortress now, enjoy the long trip home".
It is the first time they have won all three games in a season at Manuka Oval, a vast arena which suits their dogged running down to the ground.
The 14,974 fans who packed the arena is the most ever at the venue for an AFL game.
The Giants are well drilled, hard to break down and now in the box seat for the double chance in September.
"I'm really rapt and pleased our boys for the third week in a row [showed that intensity]," Giants coach Leon Cameron said. "I couldn't see the first quarter coming like that, we played really good defensive footy. "
One of Cameron's biggest tasks will be to shield his wealth of youngsters from the hype.
"There's always going to be outside talk, I prefer the outside talk to be positive and there's no doubt there's going to be a fair bit of positivity about our footy club," he said.
"The proof is in the pudding internally and that's all we can control. "It's pleasing for our footy club. From where we've come from the club is talked about in a positive way.
"We play a brand people probably like to watch and our supporter base is growing, which we saw with the crowd today."
Their meagre haul of 1.2 (8 ) at half-time was Richmond's lowest at the major break since the mid 1990s.
The Tigers' desire increased markedly after quarter-time, but they are a team devoid of confidence. Their kicking was abysmal in ideal sunny and still conditions and Hardwick has some tough decisions to make with his roster for 2017.
Giants midfielder Stephen Coniglio continued his stellar season with 33 possessions, Tom Scully also excelled with 30 disposals and two goals and Sam Reid's amazing career resurrection continued with three goals.
Senior players Riewoldt and defender Alex Rance were the only Tigers to have any real impact in a performance that showed how dramatically they have regressed from last year.
VOTES
Greater Western Sydney v Richmond
(Jon Tuxworth)
Stephen Coniglio (GWS) 8
Tom Scully (GWS) 8
Heath Shaw (GWS) 8
Dylan Shiel (GWS) 7
Alex Rance (Richmond) 7
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