Greater Western Sydney were dealt a 74-point drubbing and Israel Folau was reported in their final AFL practice match, against Richmond on Saturday.
The rugby league convert was pinged 10 minutes before halftime at Canberra’s Manuka Oval for what looked like a rough tackle on Richmond’s Daniel Jackson close to the Giants’ forward 50.
But just a week from their AFL debut against Sydney, Folau would be unlucky to miss out on his first premiership match, given Jackson still managed to get a handball away before umpire Matthew Nicholls blew his whistle.
Folau also came off second-best in a head clash with teammate Tom Scully moments later, but was back to finish off the second half for the Giants before they went down to the Tigers 20.20 (140) to 10.6 (66).
Tigers’ livewire Jack Riewoldt finished with six goals – all in the second half – while Brett Deledio chipped in with a handy four from his first half of footy.
The scoreline could have easily blown out further had it not been for Richmond’s inaccuracy in front of goal, which was on show from the first quarter when they booted 3.9.
It helped the Giants creep back in the second quarter, with Jonathan Giles booting the first for the home side 10 minutes in with a beautiful on-song kick from outside 50.
Kevin Sheedy’s men upped their workrate to equal the quarter with four goals a piece, but Richmond dominated in the second half to almost triple their 25-point halftime lead.
Fielding a full-strength team for almost all four quarters, Richmond ended up with more than double GWS’s inside 50s.
Deledio took a break in the second half, but showed no signs of the hamstring strain he suffered at the start of the pre-season, finishing with a match-high 25 disposals.
Trent Cotchin and Nathan Foley were again prolific through the midfield, while Callan Ward and Will Hoskin-Elliott were some of the best for the Giants.
GWS take on the Swans in next Saturday’s AFL season opener, while Richmond will wait until Thursday the week afterwards to battle Carlton at the MCG.
