Essendon burn Giants
ESSENDON claimed top spot on the ladder with a 66-point win over Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night, but it was nowhere as easy a triumph as the margin suggests.
A one-sided second-half helped the Bombers ease to a 18.11 (119) to 7.11 (53) victory in the maiden match at Skoda Stadium, the revamped showground facility at Sydney Olympic Park.
James Hird's charges were put under immense pressure by the league's newcomers for large sections of the opening half.
The Bombers lead at half-time was still a comfortable 28 points - the advantage coming from clinical work in the forward line and the Giants' contrasting profligacy at the other end.
The Giants had more scoring shots than the Bombers at the major break but only two goals to show for it.
Read the full match report at ABC news online.
