The Sydney Swans have suffered a defeat to the hands of cross-town rivals, the GWS GIANTS who established itself as the big sister of the AFLW Sydney derby, piling on the goals to defeat Sydney by 47 points at the SCG.

In the first AFLW battle between the New South Wales teams, the seventh-season Giants spread the first-season Swans too thin in the 9.11 (65) to 2.6 (18) victory.

The Giants' revamped gameplan under new coach Cam Bernasconi finally clicked into gear, burning Sydney on the outside and running hard for each other to create an overlap in attack, while also finding some patience for the occasional slow play.

Despite coming out fast in the opening minutes, the Swans were unable to keep up with GWS who used all their experience in the first women's game at the SCG.

Sydney lifted its intensity in the third term, shutting down some of the easy outside run, but was unable to lock the ball in its attacking half, starving its forwards of opportunities.

Cynthia Hamilton (12 disposals, five clearances) and Lauren Szigeti (11 and five) battled hard in the midfield, with the former's day ending five minutes before the final siren after her head accidentally collided with Alicia Eva's knee, ending her game short and being assessed for concussion post-game.

Ally Morphett (18 hitouts, 13 disposals, five clearances) and Kate Reynolds were dominant in the ruck against Cambridge McCormick, but Alyce Parker (22 touches) and Emily Pease (16) helped the Giants balance out the clearance count with five apiece.

Post game coach Scott Gowans said:

"It was a tough test. We spoke before the game about playing our way and just on quick reflection we had moments where we controlled the concepts we were trying to do. Having said that, when you focus on other things so much, other bits fall away.

"From a coaching perspective I think that will be the story of the season. It's just how quickly we can bring everything together in one game. It was a tough lesson and credit to GWS, I thought they were really good. It will come and it will connect, we just need the time. 

"We try not to focus on the scoreboard, I say that to the girls all the time but it's tough. I never mention the score at breaks, I talk about what we are tying to learn.

"Part of this process, if you look at the competition and the way it is structured with the expansion sides, some are getting beaten by margins and I feel like if you were in the inner sanctum of these clubs it would probably be similar. I don't think legitimately in the time frames we had to put all this together, you could say that there's a realistic chance that we are going to be in premiership window in year one. What you have to hang your hat on is how you make the players and supporters feel valued and the processes you have.

"Last week we won a quarter, and there's some internal KPIs that we have and focus on. We hit 2/7 this week, that's not going to win us game but at least we know the KPIs are right. I'd like people to understand, I am not just saying it as a cliche, but the process is the process, regardless of if we had have won today, the review would have been the same.
The review would have had the seven stats we hang our hat on and we would have asked did we win them and how did we win them and how is that going to make us ultimately a great side."

Up next

Sydney will be hoping for its first win, facing fellow expansion club Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval next Saturday.

SYDNEY                                          0.2     1.4     2.5     2.6  (18)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY     3.4     5.5     8.6     9.11  (65)

GOALS
Sydney: L.Hamilton, Lochland
Greater Western Sydney: Barr 2, Staunton 2, Goldsworthy 2, Pease, Garnett, Doyle

BEST
Sydney: Morphett, C.Hamilton, Szigeti, Eastman, Privitelli
Greater Western Sydney: Parker, Brazendale, Pease, Eva, Garnett, Goldsworthy 

INJURIES
Sydney: C.Hamilton (head knock)
Greater Western Sydney: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 4,233 at the SCG