Brilliant Giants snap Crows hoodoo

Greater Western Sydney have held off Adelaide livewires Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts to log their first ever victory over the Crows and continue their spectacular run towards an inaugural AFL finals campaign.

In-form forward Cam McCarthy (four goals) starred and 10 individual Giants players scored as the home side prevailed 16.12 (108) to 12.12 (84) in a thrilling encounter at Spotless Stadium on Saturday.

In a sign of how much the Giants have improved, the South Australian outfit thrashed GWS by more than 10 goals in both meetings last season.

This latest win makes it three on the trot for the Giants – the club’s biggest winning streak in its short history.

McCarthy kicked off the onslaught as the Giants scored five goals in the first 14 minutes to bounce to a 34-point lead.

The Crows were left shell-shocked as their rudderless defence fell well short against midfielders Toby Greene (three goals) and the sparky Dylan Shiel (34 disposals), who kicked one major and ran off on the odd breakaway.

Adelaide finally managed a shot on goal in the 16th minute, a free-kick which Walker struck perfectly for his first of four goals.

But Tomas Bugg responded, notching his first major of the season to help the Giants to their highest first-term score of 40, as they lead by 19 points at the break.

Jeremy Cameron continued his recent solid form up front, slotting two goals to take his tally for the last three games to 14.

Adelaide steadied the ship, but their depth was sorely tested in the absence of Matthew Jaensch (knee) and halfback Brodie Smith (concussion) among others.

Their stocks took a further hit when Rory Laird was stretchered off in the third quarter after a bad head clash with teammate Jake Lever, while Luke Brown also took a worrying hit and Sam Kerridge went off with an ankle injury.

But Betts (three goals) and Walker played well, and the Crows were well served by Josh Jenkins, who scored two.

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