SYDNEY has taken a flamethrower to Greater Western Sydney's finals hopes, ambushing their crosstown rivals to hold them to their equal-lowest score ever on Thursday night. 

In the first Sydney Derby played on neutral territory at Optus Stadium, the Giants never left first gear which prompted captain Stephen Coniglio to describe their first half as "hopeless". 

>>WATCH ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

The lack of Giants pressure allowed the Swans to do as they pleased, and aside from a small burst in the third term, waltzed to just their second win in eight games, 10.6 (66) to 3.7 (25).  

SWANS RUN RIOT Full match coverage and stats

The Giants' score – of which all three goals came via free kicks – levelled their effort in last year's Grand Final disaster and shaved more than six per cent off their standing to leave them clinging to eighth spot. 

Callum Sinclair's dominance of Sam Jacobs helped the Swans win the first term clearance battle 16-6 as they kicked three unanswered goals. 

The Giants lacked any energy as the Swans were able to springboard from defence and record a whopping 42 more uncontested possessions in the first half.

Jeremy Cameron, who was well held by Dane Rampe and Lewis Melican all night, managed the Giants' first goal at the 13-minute mark of the second term. 

As they did against Essendon six days earlier, the Giants threatened to storm back into the contest in the third term before a crucial goal from debutant Zac Foot stemmed the momentum. 

The Swans' exciting youngsters including Nick Blakey, Will Hayward, James Bell, Dylan Stephens and James Rowbottom then ran away with the victory in an irresistible final term. 

"Hopeless" Giants slow starters again
Just six days after trailing Essendon by 25 points at the main break before turning the tables to win, the Giants were embarrassed in the first half against the Swans. Their 1.3 was their lowest half-time score since their debut season. It prompted captain Stephen Coniglio to label the performance "hopeless" when speaking to Fox Footy at half-time. The Giants allowed the Swans an extra 42 uncontested possessions and kicked the ball at just 33 per cent in their front half in the first two terms against the Swans. 

Debutant catches out veteran
Talk about a crucial time to kick your first AFL goal. With his side leading by 18 points trying to weather a Giants fightback, Zac Foot outmarked former GWS skipper Callan Ward who lost his footing deep in attack in the third term. The 19-year-old – pick 51 in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft – went back and calmly slotted the major to win his side back important momentum. 

Giant problem in attack
Entering as one of the worst inside 50 teams in the competition with just 36 per game, Leon Cameron would've taken the Giants' 52-32 upper hand in that department. What he wouldn't have expected was just three majors and the club's equal-lowest score in its history. Superstar forward Jeremy Cameron managed just five disposals and Harry Himmelberg six as the Swans' defence led by Dane Rampe repelled everything in sight. 

SYDNEY                                               3.1       5.2       6.5       10.6 (66)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY              0.1       1.3       2.6       3.7 (25)

GOALS
Sydney: Dawson 2, Blakey 2, Rowbottom, Foot, Thurlow, Stephens, Hayward, Bell
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron, Finlayson, Langdon

BEST
Sydney: Parker, Rampe, Blakey, Rowbottom, Sinclair, Dawson, Melican
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly, Coniglio, Perryman, Whitfield, Williams

INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Greater Western Sydney: Nil