Little brother is catching up fast in Sydney on the evidence of Friday's NAB Challenge match, with GWS strolling to a 34-point win over the Swans.
Sydney kicked the opening goal in the first minute but that was the only time they led all night after a delayed start at Drummoyne Oval because of a floodlight issue.
There was plenty to like about the Giants, who won 14.10 (94) to 1.8.3 (60), with Steve Johnson making a good start in GWS colours.
He kicked three goals and tallied 17 possessions in a lively performance and James Stewart and Adam Tomlinson each kicked two.
GWS dominated the midfield exchanges with Toby Greene, Ryan Griffen and Dylan Shiel among their most influential players.
Defender Heath Shaw accumulated 29 touches, the equal match high along with Swans midfielder Luke Parker, who was one of the few to stand up in a beaten side.
The Giants led by nine, 20 and 33 points at the three breaks, with the Swans solitary score of the third quarter coming through the only super goal of the game kicked by Jordan Dawson.
Youngster Tom Papley kicked a couple of final-quarter goals and Isaac Heeney also bagged a brace for Sydney.
The Swans struggled up forward when Lance Franklin wasn't playing deep or when Kurt Tippett was in the ruck.
Giants ruckman Shane Mumford started well in his first match since the middle of last season, but came off in the second quarter.
GWS coach Leon Cameron said Mumford experienced foot soreness and the Giants opted not to take any risks with him.
"We just made sure we iced him and hopefully the next few days we'll find out a little bit more," Cameron said.
"It's hard to say whether it's an issue or not," added Cameron, who hoped Mumford might still play in their final pre-season game next weekend.
He said Johnson could do some extraordinary things, but was particularly impressed with his pressure work.
"He's willing to use his body he's really hard and competitive as we know and some of his forward pressure hits to upset the opposition was pleasing."
Cameron said the contested part of the Giants game was better than in their first hitout, while his Swans counterpart John Longmire noted his team failed in that area.
"Too often the opposition were able to move the ball from one end of the ground to the other without enough pressure on them," Longmire said.
"Try and look at some of the players that who played well, you'd struggle to find more than a handful. That was disappointing."
Share
