GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.3 9.9 16.13 22.17 (149) GOLD COAST 1.0 4.0 7.1 9.4 (58)
Goals: Greater Western Sydney: J Cameron 7, R Lobb 3, R Palmer 3, J Kelly 2, J Patton 2, T Scully 2, J Steele, N Wilson, S Johnson. Gold Coast: B Matera 3, J Grant 3, T Lynch 2, G Ablett.
Best: Greater Western Sydney: Shiel, Hopper, Kelly, Cameron, Scully. Gold Coast: Lonergan, Hall, Prestia, Matera, Ablett.
Umpires: Brett Rosebury, Brendan Hosking, Robert O'Gorman.
Official Crowd: 8308 at Spotless Stadium.
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There weren't many people there to see it, but the Giants added further weight to an increasingly credible argument that they're finals bound — or better — for the first time, mercilessly obliterating fellow expansion club Gold Coast by 91 points at Spotless Stadium.
Certainly, the Suns were depleted by injuries, down on confidence and willing their struggling superstar Gary Ablett Jr to somehow get back to his incomparable best.
But Ablett's 32nd birthday seemed destined to be crashed by the soaring Giants, whose quality and sparkle in pretty much every aspect of the game has taken a significant leap forward so far this season.
In what at times looked like a training run, the western Sydney team's run of five successive victories was virtually assured after extending their 21-point quarter time lead to 39 at the main break, 9.9.63 to 4.0.24.
More damage was inflicted in the third with GWS kicking seven goals to three and flying out to a 66-point lead, before the orange and charcoal machine completed the rout with a further six final term majors.
By the time the Suns were put out of their misery the statistics told a very one-sided tale. More than 100 more possessions, 34 more contested possessions, 50 clearances to 29 and nearly double the tally of entries inside 50 metres.
Gold Coast's depth is without doubt being pushed to the limit, with the likes of Jaeger O'Meara, Michael Rischitelli and David Swallow sidelined, and key forward Peter Wright a late withdrawal this round.
But the Giants, too, were without the calibre of Phil Davis, Ryan Griffen, Devon Smith and Will Hoskin-Elliott. Not that anyone noticed on Saturday night.
Dylan Shiel, with a game-high 35 touches, took over command of a midfield that played at twice the pace of their opponents for long stretches.
Steve Johnson, bandaged after twice spilling blood for the cause, was vicious at forward, helping Jeremy Cameron along to an equal career-best seven goals. Rory Lobb's dream season continued with another three goals. Rhys Palmer kicked three, Tom Scully, Jon Patton and Josh Kelly grabbed two each.
Young tyro Jacob Hopper had a debut to remember, snaring 31 touches and looking entirely at home, while Tim Mohr had a cruisey return in defence after two years out of the top flight with injuries.
Stephen Coniglio's reputation as a tagger continues to grow, this time keeping Ablett to 21 possessions, while Zac Williams, Callan Ward, Heath Shaw and Kelly got their hands on the ball an awful lot.
The only downside for the Giants was proof that not all Sydneysiders love a winner, with only 8308 turning up to see one of the AFL's hottest sides on a fine night when there was no NRL being played in Sydney.
In that department, the battle well and truly continues, though more will almost certainly be on hand when the Western Bulldogs visit next Sunday.
Among few highlights for the Suns, Brandon Matera and Jarrad Grant scored three goals each, Jesse Lonergan tried hard in defence with 11 tackles and Aaron Hall gained a team-high 32 touches. Forward star Tom Lynch saw very little action but managed two goals.