DYNAMIC GWS duo Jeremy Cameron and Jeremy Finlayson have slotted three goals apiece in a heart-stopping one-point AFL victory against Port Adelaide.
The Giants prevailed 8.8 (56) to 7.13 (55) to mark stalwart Heath Shaw’s 300th AFL game in winning style on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.
GWS move into fifth spot on the ladder while Port remain ninth and a win outside the top eight with four rounds remaining.
The Giants led from go to woe but survived an almighty late scare when Port snuck within one point 15 minutes into the final quarter.
GWS led by two points eight minutes later when Port’s Darcy Byrne-Jones missed a snap at goal which would have pinched victory.
The Giants were well served by a batch of midfielders including Toby Greene (30 disposals), Jacob Hopper (30 touches) and Tim Taranto (31 possessions).
Defender Lachie Whitfield (27 disposals) was also busy while Shaw gathered 19 disposals in his milestone match.
Port’s former captain Travis Boak collected a game-high 40 possessions, his teammates Dan Houston (29 disposals) and Tom Rockliff (31 touches) were prolific ball winners, while the brilliant Robbie Gray booted three goals and Dougal Howard kicked two.
The Giants led 2.5 to 0.3 at quarter-time after controlling the opening term – Cameron kicked both the goals but teammate Finlayson sprayed two easy chances.
The Power, before a middling crowd of 27,591 spectators, laid just three tackles for the term in a sluggish start from the home side.
But Port, revved by coach Ken Hinkley at the break, responded with a more- aggressive second term but still couldn’t put the clamps on the Giants’ attacking tandem of Cameron and Finlayson.
Both GWS forwards booted goals but Port edged back into the contest with three of their own to trail by just six points at halftime.
Finlayson took centre stage in the third stanza with a pair of goals and Harry Himmelberg added another for the visitors to creep out to a 17-point advantage.
But Port again kept in touch with their triple club champion Gray slotting his second major to reduce the deficit to 10 points at three-quarter time.
Gray added his third major early in the last term and the teams traded goals with GWS’ Jackson Hately and Port’s Howard scoring before the frantic finale.
© AAP 2019
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.5 4.6 7.7 8.8 (56)
PORT ADELAIDE 0.3 3.6 5.9 7.13 (55)
Goals: Greater Western Sydney: J Cameron 3 J Finlayson 3 H Himmelberg J Hately. Port Adelaide: R Gray 3 D Howard 2 C Rozee S Gray.
Umpires: Shaun Ryan, Curtis Deboy, Leigh Fisher.
Official Crowd: 27,591 at Adelaide Oval.
