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Greene boots four, reported in GWS win

3 minute read

Toby Greene has kicked four goals and been reported in the Giants 36-point AFL home win over hapless Carlton

TOBY GREENE.
TOBY GREENE. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Acting GWS captain Toby Greene has kicked a monster 67-metre goal and also been reported as GWS condemned AFL battlers Carlton to a season-high 36-point AFL loss.

Five straight goals either side of halftime propelled GWS to a 39-point lead on Saturday on their way to a 16.6 (102) to 9.12 (66) win at Giants Stadium, which lifted them one spot to ninth and within two points of eighth-placed Richmond.

Carlton, who slumped to a third straight loss and are being subjected to a mid-season review by an external panel, looked toothless in the first half, kicking just three goals.

They showed much more fight and better ball movement after the early stages of the third quarter.

They kicked four straight goals and got to within 12 points in the third and fourth quarters, but fell away badly in the final stages - a depressingly familiar pattern for Carlton fans.

Key forward Harry McKay, who didn't touch the ball in the first quarter and just twice to halftime, was prominent in the Blues fightback, kicking 3.2 a few days after the Coleman Medal leader signed a contract extension.

But GWS had more weaponry up forward and kicked five of the last six goals.

Jeremy Finlayson kicked five goals and Greene four.

Greene sent the majority of the crowd of 7,035 into raptures after the first quarter siren, when he hit the target with a booming kick from just inside the centre circle.

Greene was reported for striking Nic Newman in an off-the-ball incident early in the third quarter and also appeared to make contact with an umpire, though GWS coach Leon Cameron didn't see either incident.

He appeared to make contact with Newman's ribs, though it didn't seem to be too heavy, with Cameron unconcerned, before viewing the incident.

"He's really tidied up in that area and let his footy do the talking and let his leadership doing the talking, but I'm not too concerned about it," Cameron said.

"He's a wonderful player, he's had a wonderful year, he's a great leader of our footy club."

GWS scored the first 19 points of the match. "We were really rapt with the start, our last two weeks haven't been good and we really concentrated on that during the week," Cameron said.

All of Carlton's first three goals came from free kicks awarded to Matthew Owies and Lachie Fogarty in the first quarter and McKay in the second.

GWS made 37 more tackles and proven tagger Matt de Boer limited the influence of Carlton's midfield big guns Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps.

Eddie Betts tallied just five touches and was held goalless, while former Giant Zac Williams had just 11 touches.

Carlton coach David Teague said it was up there amongst their most disappointing performances this year and it had been tough to watch.

He urged the fans to stick with the club and said the players and coaches were also hurting.

"I thought they smacked us around the ball, particularly in the tackle count," Teague said.

"We couldn't get any clean ball movement going forward and then when we had the opportunity to do that, we didn't use the ball well."

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