Bombers burn Giants on home debut

Updated May 26, 2012 23:14:29

Essendon claimed top spot on the ladder with a 66-point win over Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night, but it was nowhere as easy a triumph as the margin suggests.

A one-sided second-half helped the Bombers ease to a 18.11 (119) to 7.11 (53) victory in the maiden match at Skoda Stadium, the revamped showground facility at Sydney Olympic Park.

James Hird's charges were put under immense pressure by the league's newcomers for large sections of the opening half.

The Bombers lead at half-time was still a comfortable 28 points - the advantage coming from clinical work in the forward line and the Giants' contrasting profligacy at the other end.

The Giants had more scoring shots than the Bombers at the major break but only two goals to show for it.

Remarkably the Giants had registered nine behinds before its first goal at home in the 19th minute of the second quarter when Dylan Shiel sprinted into the goalsquare unopposed.

Adam Treloar had another major with 46 seconds remaining in the second term to conjure memories of round three this year, when the Bombers flirted with disaster in a 17-point win over expansion side Gold Coast.

But unfortunately for Kevin Sheedy his side could not maintain the attack on the ball after half-time when there was even more space opening up for the likes of Stewart Crameri and Alwyn Davey to run into.

Sheedy may have been dealt an 11-goal loss in his first match against the club he coached for 27 seasons, but it was a result with positives.

Jeremy Cameron continued his strong season with three goals and a couple of spectacular efforts, while fellow young guns Treloar (25 disposals, six tackles) and Shiel (21 disposals, six tackles) were also among the Giants' best.

The biggest disappointment for the new club came off the field - an underwhelming crowd of 11,887.

The Bombers booted 5.7 in the third term to take control of the contest and slotted another five goals in the final quarter.

Crameri, Davey and Tom Bellchambers all kicked three goals, with Angus Monfries kicking two and Ben Howlett, who was slated to start as the substitute until the last minute scratching of Kyle Hardingham (calf), had 27 disposals while David Zaharakis had a game-best 32.

Bombers: 18.11 (119) - T Bellchambers 3, S Crameri 3, A Davey 3, P Ryder 2, A Monfries 2, J Watson, D Zaharakis, T Colyer, J Melksham, M Hurley.

Giants: 7.11 (53) - J Cameron 3, J Giles, J McDonald, D Shiel, A Treloar.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, homebush-2140, nsw, australia, essendon-3040, vic

First posted May 26, 2012 22:40:19

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Scully to miss GWS debut

Updated March 18, 2012 17:31:14

The repercussions from Israel Folau's forgettable AFL practice match against Richmond have continued after Greater Western Sydney revealed his accidental head clash with Tom Scully will cost the young Giant a start in the club's first competition fixture against Sydney on Saturday.

Folau faces being rubbed out of the season-opener himself after twice being reported for rough conduct in the Giants' hefty practice match loss to the Tigers at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Saturday.

And things got no better for the star NRL recruit on Sunday when his club confirmed that the incident between Folau and Scully left the latter with a slight depressed fracture of his cheekbone.

Young midfielder Scully, another of the Giants' key recruits for their inaugural season, is expected to miss one week.

"While it is obviously disappointing for Tom not to be able to play in our first game, the prognosis from the medical staff was very positive and we look forward to him returning to the side for our round-two match against North Melbourne on April 8," the Giants' general manager of football operations, Graeme Allan said.

Folau's first charge was for a swinging tackle on Daniel Jackson just before half-time, while he was pinged again in the following quarter for an allegedly ill-timed spoil over midfielder Brett Deledio.

Recruited with huge fanfare from rugby league, the loss of Folau would be a public relations disaster for the Giants should he be suspended.

All tribunal cases from weekend matches will be heard on Monday.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, blacktown-2148, nsw, australia

First posted March 18, 2012 17:27:49

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Swan Johnston to make AFL debut

Posted May 26, 2011 16:03:00

A change in attitude from Sydney's Lewis Johnston means the first-round pick from the 2008 AFL draft will make his debut on the weekend.

The 192cm key-position player will become Sydney's fifth debutant for the season when he battles North Melbourne at Docklands on Saturday.

Johnston was drafted by the Swans with the 12th overall pick in the 2008 draft, but has since found it difficult adjusting to the demands of the AFL.

Natural talent has never been an issue but Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh suggested it was only this season Johnston worked out what was required by the club.

"We've spoken to him quite a few times to work on his game and his attitude," McVeigh said.

"When you get drafted in the first round, you think you're going to come in and play straight away, but you have to learn what it takes to play AFL footy.

"He really wanted to play senior footy, but I don't think he knew how, what was required.

"It's finally clicked for him this year."

Johnston has waited longer than most youngsters from his draft, with Geelong's Mitch Brown and Western Bulldogs' Ayce Cordy the only other 2008 first-round selections yet to play AFL.

Brown (broken leg) and Cordy (two shoulder reconstructions) have both had a wretched run with injuries, while Johnston has not enjoyed much luck either, missing the entire 2009 season with a foot injury.

McVeigh, a mentor to Johnston since his return from injury, has noted a major lift in the 20-year-old's work off the field this season.

"He's really learnt this year, he's really studied a lot of the best forwards and the best defenders," he said.

"Over the last two years, I've been working closely with him, being that link between the coaches and him.

"He's listened to what the coaches and the players have wanted from him."

It could be a difficult test for Johnston if coach John Longmire opts to deploy him in Sydney's misfiring forward line.

The absence of key target Daniel Bradshaw (knee) has forced Longmire to experiment with a series of makeshift full-forwards.

It has not been all that successful with Ben McGlynn (16 goals) and Adam Goodes (10) the only players to have registered more than nine goals from the opening nine rounds.

The Swans' tally of 93 goals for the season means they are currently ranked 14th in the competition for points scored.

McVeigh described the forward line as a "work in progress" but maintained the issue was with his side's process not its personnel.

"We're not too worried about it, the way the ball goes in there at the moment is probably our main concern," he said.

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, nsw, sydney-2000

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Jacobs to debut for Crows but no room for Cornes at Power

Kane Cornes has missed out on selection for the Power this weekend, but Sam Jacobs will debut for his new club.

Both Kane Cornes and Danyle Pearce have missed out on selection in the Power team to play Gold Coast this weekend, with Port making just one change to the team that won Showdown 30.

Paul Stewart has been ruled out with a knee injury and he has been replaced by Jason Davenport.

Both Cornes and Pearce are expected to play in the SANFL this weekend.

For the Gold Coast, captain Gary Ablett will make his AFL return from injury.

The midfield star was one of four inclusions for the Suns, who are chasing their first victory, with 19-year-old former swimmer Jack Hutchins named for his AFL debut.

Across at the Crows, Ivan Maric has paid for his poor form and has been dropped, while Myke Cook and youngster Matthew Wright, who made his debut last week, have also been omitted.

Adelaide named ruckman Sam Jacobs to play his first match with the Crows against his former club Carlton at Docklands on Saturday night.

They also regained Michael Doughty and Richard Tambling from injury, but are still missing key defender Scott Stevens.

The Blues dropped forwards Lachie Henderson and Andrew Collins, but kept faith with out-of-form goalsneak Eddie Betts.

Essendon, who have lost Jason Winderlich and Courtenay Dempsey to serious knee injuries, also dropped Brent Prismall for Monday's Anzac Day clash with Collingwood.

They added David Hille, Andrew Welsh and Alwyn Davey to an expanded interchange bench.

The Magpies are yet to make any omissions, but ruckman Darren Jolly was named to return from injury, while Brad Dick was named on their expanded bench for what could be his first AFL game since injuring his shoulder in round 13 last year.

Geelong included Mathew Stokes, Tom Hawkins and Mitch Duncan to return from injury in a 25-man squad for Tuesday's big MCG clash with Hawthorn, who are yet to make any cuts.

Richmond will regain key defenders Luke McGuane and Alex Rance from suspension for Sunday's meeting with North Melbourne.

The Kangaroos have dropped forward Aaron Edwards and added experienced defender Daniel Pratt to their squad.

The Western Bulldogs lost forward Daniel Giansiracusa (hamstring) to injury for Monday night's match against Fremantle in Perth.

Father-son draftee Mitch Wallis was named in their squad for what would be his AFL debut.

The Dockers have lost Nick Suban (leg).

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