GWS forwards fire in giant win over Collingwood

Irish forward Callum Brown has kicked a career-best five goals as Greater Western Sydney opened their AFL season in style with a convincing 32-point win over reigning AFL premiers Collingwood.

The Giants’ superior efficiency in attack told the tale, with Brown and Jesse Hogan (4.0) combining for nine straight majors in a 18.6 (114) to 11.16 (82) victory at Engie Stadium on Saturday night.

But it came at a cost when tough veteran Callan Ward was substituted out of the game at halftime with a right shoulder injury after falling on the joint under the weight of a Beau McCreery tackle.

Josh Kelly (32 touches, one goal), Tom Green (30 disposals, nine clearances, one goal) and Stephen Coniglio (28 possessions, four clearances, four goal assists) all shone in the GWS midfield, and Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley stood up in defence.

Callum M. Brown booted three goals in the first term. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Brent Daniels (four goals) and former No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman (two) also did well in support of Brown and Hogan up front.

A hot start from Brown featured three goals from his first three kicks of the season and steered the Giants to an eight-point lead by the first break.

Ward was forced off the ground when he landed on his right shoulder a few minutes before halftime, and was replaced by Toby McMullin.

But two second-quarter goals from Hogan, Brown’s fourth major and Daniels’ second pushed the advantage out to 19 points.

GWS had booted 10.5 from just 24 forward entries by the main break as the Pies’ usually well-organised defence was sliced open.

Brayden Maynard resumed his personal rivalry with Toby Greene and kept the GWS skipper relatively quiet.

But a brilliant Greene goal on the boundary line under pressure from Oleg Markov was the highlight of the third quarter, and he finished with four goal assists.

The Giants piled on four unanswered goals for the third term to take control as the lead ballooned to 40 points.

Collingwood have been the league’s comeback kings over the past two years but there was no fairytale this time, despite the Magpies kicking four of the last five goals of the game.

Nick Daicos (34 disposals, 10 clearances, one goal) and brother Josh Daicos (28 touches) were busy, while Brody Mihocek kicked three goals and Bobby Hill two.

Magpies ruck-forward Mason Cox caused ripples with his “showground for livestock” jibe about the Giants’ home ground over the off-season.

But the American Pie didn’t back up his tough talk, failing to gather a single possession in the first half.

He finished with just five disposals to go with his 19 hit-outs and didn’t hit the scoreboard.