GWS co-captain Callan Ward celebrates kicking his fourth goal to deliver the Giants a landmark win over Melbourne. Picture: Mark Evans Source: HeraldSun
GREATER Western Sydney's 37-point win against Melbourne yesterday didn't lift the Giants off the bottom of the ladder.
But it did ensure two things.
Interim Demon coach Neil Craig no longer needs to bother with an application for the club's head coaching position next season and the Giants avoided the ignominy of being the first team in 50 years to go through a season winless.
Fitzroy in 1964 was the last team to suffer the embarrassing fate.
"I never thought we would have a winless season," GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said.
"It isn't a turning point for the Giants, but it is the start of a long curve."
It was a record-breaking day for the Giants as the 124-point tally was a club high, as was the size of the winning margin.
The Giants' seven-goal last term was also a record.
In Round 4 at the MCG, GWS led Melbourne by 19 points at the last break and conceded 12 final-quarter goals to lose by 41 points.
There would be no such collapses on this sunny day as Devon Smith booted three last-quarter goals and Jeremy Cameron kicked a 55m bomb with 10 minutes left to effectively seal the match and give him four goals for the day and a momentary share of the lead in the Coleman Medal, until West Coast's Josh Kennedy took to the field against Gold Coast and took charge.
While Tom McDonald limited him to just 10 disposals, Cameron made the most of his touches, being involved in eight scores.
While Cameron and Smith were keys, GWS co-captain Callan Ward was the hero.
The former Bulldog drove the Giants from start to finish as he picked up 31 disposals for the match, including four goals.
"It shows the maturity of our young players that we didn't stop in the last quarter," Ward said.
"There was a great feeling with the fans - it's a huge high.
"There was a sense this was the game we had to win.
"Defence was our main focus and it worked."
Former Melbourne No.1 draft pick Tom Scully was particularly prominent after halftime and finished with 29 touches and his first win against his old club, while this year's No.1 pick Lachie Whitfield looked polished from the outset with 26 disposals and two goals.
By contrast the decision making of Melbourne top pick Jimmy Toumpas left a lot to be desired late in the second term as he ran into an open goal and opted to handball before being caught with the ball.
Midfielder Nathan Jones (10 clearances), defender Cam Pedersen, who kicked a cracking 60m goal on the run, and youngsters Mitch Clisby and Jack Viney tried hard, but ruckman Jake Spencer was arguably their only winner on yet another dirty day for the club, which now has a worse percentage than the Giants.
It was the first time in the Giants history they have started a game as favourites.
The status was surprising to many as GWS had lost 22 matches in a row, its last win coming in Round 19 last year when it defeated Port Adelaide at Skoda Stadium.
"I think it (the win) means a hell of a lot to our fans," Sheedy said.
"There was a bit of feeling out there in the stadium and we noticed that.
"Our people in orange were starting to dance a bit by the end of the game.
"For the club and the players it was really important because these boys work hard and they're developing into a really good side."
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