Bedlam on Baltic Avenue

ISML 2013: Mashiro and Eu top Topaz

ISML 2013: Mashiro and Eu top Topaz

By JR Salazar
August 10, 2013

Match Day 3 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Topaz Necklace Phase concluded yesterday, and the field of contenders for the prize has dwindled down to 14. Mashiro Shiina remained at the top of the Nova Division, while Eucliwood Hellscythe is at the top of the Stella Division. Let's take a look at the action from Topaz 3.

NOVA DIVISION

In the Nova Division, Shinobu Oshino won the closest match of the day: a 3902-3821 thriller over Yui Kotegawa, Kurisu Makise defeated Rea Sanka 4169-3662, Inori Yuzuriha clobbered Mei Misaki 4752-3447, Eru Chitanda pummered Ririchiyo Shirakiin 4794-3326, Subaru Konoe pulled off the Upset of the Round over Erio Touwa 3819-3706 and Rin Natsume crushed Homura Akemi 4432-3320.

Aria Holmes Kanzaki gunned down Karuta Roromiya 4571-3425, Mikan Yuuki defeated Fuuko Kurasaki 4115-3690, Shouko Kirishima obliterated Tsukihi Araragi 4419-3435, Asuna Yuuki routed Shinka Nibutani 4992-3671, Nyarlathotep trounced Suguha Kirigaha 4946-3354 and Mashiro Shiina destroyed Touka Takanashi 5438-3050.

Wrapping up Nova play, Meiko Honma defeated Yui 4512-3805, Rikka Takanashi blew past Keiko Ayano 5830-2767, Kuroyukihime flew past Nanami Aoyama 4835-3599, Sena Kashiwazaki trampled over Karen Araragi 5306-2847, Kobato Hasegawa leveled Noumi Kudryavka 5169-2955 and Momo Beila Deviluke defeated Yozora Mikazuki 4213-3809.

STELLA DIVISION

In the Stella Division, Ayase Aragaki cruised past Mato Kuroi 5126-3336, Hitagi Senjougahara defeated Nymph 4079-3861, Kirino Kousaka drubbed Rin Tosaka 5488-2898, Mikoto Misaka electrocuted Charlotte Dunois 5732-3072, Tomoyo Sakagami whipped past Ui Hirasawa 4437-3536 and Yuki Nagato overpowered past Konata Izumi 5123-2842.

Nagisa Furukawa rolled past C.C. 4358-3536, Hinagiku Katsura dismantled Holo 4612-3054, Illyasviel von Einzbern defeated Kyou Fujibayashi 4194-3737, Kanade Tachibana sliced and diced Saber 5841-2978, Shana torched Masami Iwasawa 5201-3352 and Taiga Aisaka roared past Konjiki no Yami 4876-3704.

Wrapping up Stella play, Yui-nyan defeated Last ORder 4652-4244, Eucliwood Hellscythe silenced Yui Hirasawa 5156-3378, Ruri Gokou ran past Haruhi Suzumia 5417-3172, Mio Akiyama rocked Victorique de Blois 4632-3578, Azusa Nakano romped past Nadeko Sengoku 5019-3201 and Yuri Nakamura shot down Louise Francoise Le Bland De La Valliere 5008-3427.

Makoto Itou and Setsuna Kiyoura teamed up to defeat Nobuse Miyokichi and Aiko Andou in the special exhibition 4520-2607.

Match Day 4 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Topaz Necklace Period is scheduled for Sunday, August 11, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.

BoBA 2013 ISML Predictions: Topaz Match Day 3

ARENA 01: [Oshino Shinobu] Kotegawa Yui by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 02: Sanka Rea [Makise Kurisu] by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 03: [Yuzuriha Inori] Misaki Mei by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 04: [Chitanda Eru] Shirakiin Ririchiyo by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 05: [Tōwa Erio] Konoe Subaru by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 06: [Akemi Homura] Natsume Rin by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 07: Roromiya Karuta [Kanzaki H. Aria] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 08: Kurasaki Fūko (Sky Raker) [Yūki Mikan] by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 09: [Kirishima Shōko] Araragi Tsukihi by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 10: [Yūki Asuna] Nibutani Shinka by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 11: Kirigaya Suguha [Nyarlathotep] by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 12: [Shiina Mashiro] Takanashi Tōka by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 13: Honma Meiko [Yui] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 14: [Takanashi Rikka] Ayano Keiko (Silica) by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 15: Aoyama Nanami [Kuroyukihime] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 16: Araragi Karen [Kashiwazaki Sena] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 17: Nōmi Kudryavka [Hasegawa Kobato] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 18: [Mikazuki Yozora] Momo Belia Deviluke by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 19: Miyokichi Nobuse, Andō Aiko [Itō Makoto, Kiyōra Setsuna] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 20: Kuroi Mato [Aragaki Ayase] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 21: [Nymph] Senjōgahara Hitagi by <=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 22: [Kōsaka Kirino] Tōsaka Rin by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 23: [Misaka Mikoto] Charlotte Dunois by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 24: [Sakagami Tomoyo] Hirasawa Ui by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 25: Izumi Konata [Nagato Yuki] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 26: Furukawa Nagisa [C.C.] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 27: Holo [Katsura Hinagiku] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 28: [Illyasviel von Einzbern] Fujibayashi Kyō by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 29: [Tachibana Kanade] Saber by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 30: [Shana] Iwasawa Masami by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 31: [Aisaka Taiga] Konjiki no Yami by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 32: Last Order [Yui-nyan] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 33: [Eucliwood Hellscythe] Hirasawa Yui by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 34: Suzumiya Haruhi [Gokō Ruri (Kuroneko)] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 35: Victorique de Blois [Akiyama Mio] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 36: Sengoku Nadeko [Nakano Azusa] by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 37: [Nakamura Yuri] Louise Vallière by >=1000
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ISML 2013: Mashiro, Azusa lead Topaz

ISML 2013: Mashiro, Azusa lead Topaz

By JR Salazar
August 8, 2013

Match Day 2 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Topaz necklace phase saw the turnouts shrink considerably to approximately 8,000 votes per match. Nonetheless, there have been the share of decisive races and close contests. Mashiro Shiina leads the Nova Division in the hopes of finally earning her first necklace, while Azusa Nakano heads the Stella.

Let's take a look at the results.

NOVA DIVISION

In the Nova Division, Eru Chitanda defeated Meiko Honma 4133-3811, Nanami Aoyama prevailed over Shinka Nibutani 4102-3917, Kobato Hasegawa ran past Kurisu Makise 4596-3546, Aria Holmes Kanzaki shout down Suguha Kirigaya 4417-2550, Yozora Mikazuki trounced Tsukihi Araragi 4272-3395 and Kuroyukihime flew past Erio Touwa 5096-2964.

Keiko Ayano defeated Noumi Kudryvaka 3915-3693, Sena Kashiwazaki trampled over Karuta Roromiya 4713-3236, Asuna Yuuni routed Shinobu Oshino 5116-3209, Yui edged Touka Takanashi 4182-4007, Rea Sanka defeated Ririchiyo Shirakiin 4079-3711 and Nyarlathotep drubbed Subaru Konoe 4520-3112.

Wrapping up Nova action, Homura Akemi delivered the closest victory of the day and the Upset of the Day: a 3906-3803 decision over Mei Misaki, Mashiro Shiina crushed Mikan Yuuki 48725-3032, Fuuko Kurasaki defeated Karen Araragi 3952-3630, Momo Beila Deviluke pummeled Yui Kotegawa 4384-2306, Inori Yuzuriha stormed past Shouko Kirishima 4942-2907 and Rikka Takanashi dismantled Rin Natsume 5720-2503.

STELLA DIVISION

In the Stella Division, Mikoto Misaka electrocuted Last Order 6132-2152, Saber slashed past Haruhi Suzumiya 4354-4094, Azusa Nakano romped past Hitagi Senjougahara 4770-3299, Shana torched C.C. 4726-3540, Yuri Nakamura gunned down Kyou Fujibayashi 4877-3009 and Ruri Gokou ran past Tomoyo Sakagami 5952-2343.

Yui Hirasawa rocked Nadeko Sengoku 4747-3165, Mio Akiyama boomped past Nagisa Furukawa 5032-3014, defending champion Kanade Tachibana bounced back with a 5972-2554 slicing and dicing of Mato Kuroi, Yui-nyan annihilated Konjiki no Yami 4369-3563, Nymph defeated Charlotte Dunois 4013-3510 and Masami Iwasawa rolled past Ui Hirasawa 4545-3437.

Wrapping up Stella play, Rin Tosaka cruised past Konata Izumi 4338-3539, Taiga Aisaka roared past Hinagiku Katsura 5439-2700, Victorique de Blois whipped past Holo 4081-3386, Ayase Aragaki stomped Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere 5123-2947, Kirino Kousaka sent Illyasviel von Einzbern flying 5154-3179 and Eucliwood Hellscythe silenced Yuki Nagato 4923-3358.

Yukina Himura and Yuki Kurokawa teamed up to defeat Teru Kurebayashi and Yotsuba Koiwai in the special exhibition 3960-1896.

Match Day 3 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Topaz Necklace Period is scheduled for today, August 8, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.

BoBA 2013 ISML Predictions: Topaz Match Day 2

ARENA 01: [Chitanda Eru] Honma Meiko by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 02: [Nibutani Shinka] Aoyama Nanami by <=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 03: Makise Kurisu [Hasegawa Kobato] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 04: Kirigaya Suguha [Kanzaki H. Aria] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 05: [Mikazuki Yozora] Araragi Tsukihi by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 06: Tōwa Erio [Kuroyukihime] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 07: Ayano Keiko (Silica) [Nōmi Kudryavka] by <=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 08: [Kashiwazaki Sena] Roromiya Karuta by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 09: [Yūki Asuna] Oshino Shinobu by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 10: [Takanashi Tōka] Yui by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 11: [Shirakiin Ririchiyo] Sanka Rea by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 12: Konoe Subaru [Nyarlathotep] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 13: [Misaki Mei] Akemi Homura by <=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 14: [Shiina Mashiro] Yūki Mikan by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 15: [Kurasaki Fūko (Sky Raker)] Araragi Karen by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 16: Kotegawa Yui [Momo Belia Deviluke] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 17: [Yuzuriha Inori] Kirishima Shōko by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 18: Natsume Rin [Takanashi Rikka] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 19: [Himuro Yukina, Kurokawa Yuki] Kurebayashi Teru, Koiwai Yotsuba by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 20: [Misaka Mikoto] Last Order by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 21: Saber [Suzumiya Haruhi] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 22: Senjōgahara Hitagi [Nakano Azusa] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 23: [Shana] C.C. by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 24: [Nakamura Yuri] Fujibayashi Kyō by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 25: Sakagami Tomoyo [Gokō Ruri (Kuroneko)] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 26: [Hirasawa Yui] Sengoku Nadeko by <=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 27: [Akiyama Mio] Furukawa Nagisa by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 28: [Tachibana Kanade] Kuroi Mato by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 29: Konjiki no Yami [Yui-nyan] by <=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 30: [Charlotte Dunois] Nymph by <=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 31: Hirasawa Ui [Iwasawa Masami] by <=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 32: [Tōsaka Rin] Izumi Konata by <=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 33: [Aisaka Taiga] Katsura Hinagiku by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 34: Holo [Victorique de Blois] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 35: [Aragaki Ayase] Louise Vallière by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 36: [Kōsaka Kirino] Illyasviel von Einzbern by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ARENA 37: Nagato Yuki [Eucliwood Hellscythe] by >=1000
Over/Under: 15000
Under

ISML 2013: Topaz Period kicks off with big results everywhere

ISML 2013: Topaz Period kicks off with big results everywhere

By JR Salazar
August 5, 2013

The 2013 International Saimoe League Topaz Necklace Period kicked off this weekend, and massive turnouts are expected for this period as Saimoe season reaches its peak. For this match day, most the races haven't been close, only decisive. However, there have been some good ones here and there, especially in the Stella Division Fuuko Kurasaki leads the Nova Division while Hitagi Senjougahara heads the Stella Division. Let's take a look at the results.

NOVA DIVISION

In the Nova Division, Yui blew apart Subaru Konoe 8015-5707, Kuroyukihime flew past Suguha Kirigaya 9491-4802, Aria Holmes Kanzaki shot down Momo Beila Deviluke 7114-6314, Nyarlathotep clobbered Tsukihi Araragi 8562-5032, Nanami Aoyama stormed past Rin Natsume 8159-5024 and Mashiro Shiina took down Inori Yuzuriha 8041-6190.

Rea Sanka trounced Yui Kotegawa 7547-5297, Rikka Takanashi leveled Sena Kashiwazaki 8881-5985, Mikan Yuuki defeated Noumi Kudryavka 6799-5568, Fuuko Kurasaki defeated Homura Akemi 6853-6557, Meiko Honma drilled Mei Misaki 8522-5550 and Shinka Nibutani crushed SHinobu Oshino 8396-5331.

Wrapping up Nova play, Touka Takanashi dismantled Kurisu Makise 7559-6314, Ririchiyo Shirakiin drubbed Shouko Kirishima 7224-5966, Asuna Yuuki slashed past Eru Chitanda 8377-6483, Erio Touwa prevailed over Keiko Ayano 6966-6664, Kobato Hasegawa ran past Yozora Mikazuki 8299-4927 and Karuta Roromiya put the clamps down on Karen Araragi 7188-5761.

STELLA DIVISION

In the Stella Division, Yui-nyan destroyed Ui Hirasawa 9228-4958, Ruri Gokou ran past Shana 8786-6563, Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere cruised past C.C. 8786-6563, Masami Iwasawa stunned over Kyou Fujibayashi 7082-6155, Haruhi Suzumiya delivered the Upset of the Round: prevailing 6981-6651 over Yuki Nagato and Taiga Aisaka roared past Kirino Kousaka 7834-6849.

Ayase Aragaki breezed past Nymph 9016-4818, Eucliwood Hellscythe silenced Mio Akiyama 8437-6201, Nadeko Sengoku defeated Hinagiku Katsura 6876-6155, Konata Izumi edged Holo 6575-6384, Last Order obliterated Rin Tousaka 9165-5882 and Saber slashed past Mato Kuroi 8721-5752.

Wrapping up Stella play, Hitagi Senjougahara won the closest race of the night: 6732-6630 over Konjiki no Yami, Illyasviel von Einzbern rolled past Charlotte Dunois 7632-5344, Mikoto Misaka electrocuted Kanade Tachibana's three-year winning streak with a 8758-8079 victory there, Yui Hirasawa rocked Tomoyo Sakagami 7651-6280, Azusa Nakano prevailed over Yuri Nakamura 7350-7237 and Victorique de Blois defeated Nagisa Furukawa 6868-6386.

Shiro and Mariko Kurama teamed up to defeat Raimei Shimizu and Olivier Mira Armstrong 6431-4028 in the special exhibition.

Match Day 2 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Topaz Necklace Period is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.

BoBA 2013 ISML Predictions: Topaz Match Day 1

Odds for this match day will be flat.

ARENA 01: Konoe Subaru [Yui] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 02: Kirigaya Suguha [Kuroyukihime] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 03: [Momo Belia Deviluke] Kanzaki H. Aria by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 04: Araragi Tsukihi [Nyarlathotep] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 05: [Aoyama Nanami] Natsume Rin by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 06: [Shiina Mashiro] Yuzuriha Inori by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 07: [Kotegawa Yui] Sanka Rea by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 08: [Takanashi Rikka] Kashiwazaki Sena by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 09: Nōmi Kudryavka [Yūki Mikan] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 10: Kurasaki Fūko (Sky Raker) [Akemi Homura] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 11: [Honma Meiko] Misaki Mei by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 12: [Nibutani Shinka] Oshino Shinobu by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 13: [Makise Kurisu] Takanashi Tōka by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 14: Kirishima Shōko [Shirakiin Ririchiyo] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 15: [Yūki Asuna] Chitanda Eru by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 16: Ayano Keiko (Silica) [Tōwa Erio] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 17: [Hasegawa Kobato] Mikazuki Yozora by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 18: Araragi Karen [Roromiya Karuta] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 19: Shimizu Raimei, Olivier Mira Armstrong [Shiro, Kurama Mariko] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Under

ARENA 20: Hirasawa Ui [Yui-nyan] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 21: Shana [Gokō Ruri (Kuroneko)] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 22: [Louise Vallière] C.C. by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 23: [Fujibayashi Kyō] Iwasawa Masami by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 24: Suzumiya Haruhi [Nagato Yuki] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 25: [Aisaka Taiga] Kōsaka Kirino by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 26: [Aragaki Ayase] Nymph by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 27: [Eucliwood Hellscythe] Akiyama Mio by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 28: Sengoku Nadeko [Katsura Hinagiku] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 29: [Holo] Izumi Konata by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 30: [Last Order] Tōsaka Rin by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 31: [Saber] Kuroi Mato by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 32: Senjōgahara Hitagi [Konjiki no Yami] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 33: Illyasviel von Einzbern [Charlotte Dunois] by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 34: [Tachibana Kanade] Misaka Mikoto by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 35: [Hirasawa Yui] Sakagami Tomoyo by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 36: [Nakano Azusa] Nakamura Yuri by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

ARENA 37: [Victorique de Blois] Furukawa Nagisa by >=500
Over/Under: 9000
Over

Finally!

The overjoyed GWS Giants celebrate their win over lowly Melbourne at Skoda Stadium. Photo: Getty Images

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 5.1 9.3 12.7 19.10 (124)
MELBOURNE 4.3 5.8 9.12 12.15 (87)

GOALS Greater Western Sydney: C Ward 4 J Cameron 4 D Smith 3 J Giles 2 L Whitfield 2 A Tomlinson D Shiel T Adams T Bugg. Melbourne: D Kent 2 J Fitzpatrick 2 J Watts 2 C Pedersen J Howe J Spencer J Trengove M Clisby S Byrnes.
UMPIRES: Stuart Wenn, Ben Ryan, Jordan Bannister.
OFFICIAL CROWD: 8,308 at Skoda Stadium.

They did it. Finally.

Master coach Kevin Sheedy won seven premierships as a player and coach but, after putting his heart and soul into the expansion project into western Sydney over the past four years, the Giants' 37-point win over Melbourne on Saturday might have been as emotional as any of his title wins with Richmond and Essendon.

This was, in many respects, the Giants' 2013 grand final.

After 22 straight losses – some by crushing margins – 364 days since their last win, and looking to avoid becoming the first team since Fitzroy in 1964 to go winless for an entire season, the Giants tasted victory for just the third time since their birth.

They led by four points at the first break, before adding four goals – including a buzzer-beater by ruckman Jonathan Giles – to the Demons' one in the second quarter, to hold a 19-point half-time lead.

Melbourne won the third term, leaving the gap at 13 points and the game seemed set to be a cliffhanger. However, the Giants, determined not to allow these opponents repeat their 12-goal final-term barrage last time they met, sealed the historic win with a stirring seven-goal final quarter.

In front of 8308 fans at Skoda Stadium, star forward Jeremy Cameron kicked four goals to take him within sight of the Coleman Medal and co-captain Callan Ward also kicked four in a best-on-ground performance. Devon Smith kicked three goals, all in the crucial final quarter. No.1 draft pick Lachie Whitfield was outstanding in midfield, and Adam Treloar and Tom Scully were among the highest possession getters. When the final siren went, hands were raised in triumph and a rarely heard team song was played.

The big picture view is that this was a glimpse into a bright future.

On the day, however, it was about the culmination of hundreds of hours of hard work with so little to celebrate.

Melbourne were thumped by 122 points last round and lost key forward Chris Dawes and defender James Frawley to injury, with the gain of defender Colin Garland.

GWS had won three of their past four opening terms and, with three snapped goals at the end of a tight first quarter, led by four.

Jack Fitzpatrick had opened Melbourne's account before midfield pressure earned GWS's responses, through Adam Tomlinson and Cameron.

Jack Watts scored twice midway through the term and Jeremy Howe showed why he is Melbourne's leading goal scorer, slotting one through from the right wing to put the Demons ahead by 13.

But the Giants launched an assault with Taylor Adams, Ward and Giles potting three straight in the final five minutes. Melbourne tried to slow the Giants in the second term but it didn't stem the flow. Curtly Hampton sold a dummy to Jack Trengove and dished off to Whitfield for their first. Ward finished off another length-of-the-field move, before Cameron converted a free kick to make it six in a row for the home side.

Jake Spencer's free kick allowed Melbourne to stop the rot, though it had been an alarming 27 minutes between majors for the Dees. The Giants dealt another late blow when Giles heaved a successful 50-metre slug on the siren.

A three-goal effort to Smith, on top of Cameron's third and fourth – a step, swivel and snap from 55 metres – put the Giants ahead by five goals, before Ward added two late ones to extend the winning margin to 37 points.

GWS Giants First Win of Season Round 19 2013

#CosmosReboot

The New York Cosmos are making a welcome return to the soccer scene as they take their place in the North American Soccer League for the 2013 fall season.

Giovanni Savarese, who had a brief spell with Swansea City, is head coach of a youthful squad which will be led on the field by former Villarreal and Spain international, Marcos Senna.

Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto were linchpins in that successful era and to continue the tradition, Pele is now honorary president and Carlos Alberto, along with the larger than life goalkeeper of that team Shep Messing, have roles as international ambassadors.The 37-year-old will bring a wealth of experience to a side which is looking to recapture the glory days of the late 70’s and early 80’s - when the Cosmos dominated the original NASL.

EricCantona is director of soccer, and together with former United States international Cobi Jones as his deputy, the backroom and off field staff are well positioned for a sustained challenge for the foreseeable future.

Obviously, the New York soccer scene has changed considerably since 1985 when the Cosmos last competed competitively.

The MLS was founded in 1993 as part of the successful 1994 world cup bid, and kicked off in 1996 riding on the back of that very world cup, with 10 teams involved.

Today, as soccer continually tries to increase its popularity across the US, New York City FC will become the leagues 20th team when they take up their franchise in the 2015 season. This will mean three professional soccer sides in the New York area, with the two new franchises joining MLS founder club the New York Red Bulls.

The Cosmos decision to not go for the 20th spot in the MLS is an interesting one. It may be claimed that New York City FC, with the backing of the New York Yankees and Manchester City was the only option for that last franchise place, but the structure of the MLS with its salary cap and all teams centrally owned by the league is a far more restrictive model than theNASL.

Of course, there is no promotion between the MSL and the NASL, so it is because of playing standards, budgets and television rights that the NASL is seen as the second tier competition.

The Cosmos could threaten that. They can again bring in marquee signings, not just under the Designated Player Rule, but as marquee signings in their own right, and as many as they want.

The blueprint is there from the way they operated pre-1985 and if they compete for the same signings which other well funded clubs across the globe are going for, there is no reason why they can not pull off a coup and sign some major stars

After all, Radamel Falcao has signed for Monaco in what is essentially seen as a weak league, so if the Cosmos can sell players of his ilk the vision for the club and the game in the States as Monaco have done to Falcao, who is to say which players could be plying their trade in the NASL in the years to come.

A knock on effect is also that the clubs in the NASL at the moment will have to invest to compete. If The Cosmos run away with the league as they did in the 80’s, where their talent and financial clout was too much for the other teams, and the league folded, what then? A repeat scenario would be in no ones interests so other clubs would be forced to compete with the Cosmos to give the NASL credibility

Whatever the end game, the Cosmos once again being part of the soccer landscape in America can only be a good thing. They are a club which has that glamour and star quality about them, and a business model to not only survive but thrive. When the season kicks off next weekend, we will see if they have what it takes to succeed on the pitch too.