Where and When: Sunday, March 27 at 3:20pm, MCG

Last time they met: 

The GIANTS were credited with ending Richmond’s premiership defence last year, defeating the reigning premiers by 39 points at Marvel Stadium in round 22.

The loss of talisman Toby Greene to suspension mattered little to the GIANTS, with the likes of Josh Kelly, Jacob Hopper, Harry Himmelberg and Tim Taranto taking it upon themselves to cement the GIANTS a finals spot.

Regular midfielder Taranto spent most of the night in Greene's attacking role and kicked a career-best four goals as the GIANTS recorded their highest first-quarter score of the year.

TV and Online: 

Sunday’s match will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on 7mate in NSW and the ACT from 3pm. The match will also be shown via the AFL Live app with a subscription purchase. 

The match can also be heard on the following radio stations in Sydney this week: SEN’s AFL Nation. For the latest television and radio broadcast guide, click here.

What it means for the GIANTS: 

In an entertaining, high-scoring clash in round one, the Sydney Derby produced another exciting contest in the opening round. The first-half goal fest saw the Swans and GIANTS one-up each other with end-to-end run, but John Longmire’s side had the stamina to keep it up by kicking eight goals to three after half-time. The GIANTS will be eager to return to the winners’ list in round two and will take confidence from winning two of their three matches at the MCG in 2021.

Where’s the opposition at: 

The Tigers, like the GIANTS, lost in the opening round of the season. Damien Hardwick’s side clashed with Carlton at the MCG and looked in control until the Blues kicked five goals in eight minutes in a stunning surge to power themselves to an upset. Richmond will notably be without Jack Riewoldt, Dion Prestia, Nick Vlastuin and Kane Lambert on Sunday afternoon.

The number: 250.

Sunday will mark a special milestone game for the GIANTS inaugural co-captain Callan Ward, who will celebrate his 250th AFL match. Into his 15th season, Ward arrived at the GIANTS from the Western Bulldogs as one of the clubs first uncontracted players, winning the club's first club champion award in 2012. After playing 60 games at the Dogs, Ward hardly missed a game in his first seven seasons at the GIANTS, playing 156 games before rupturing his ACL in 2019. In 2021 Ward became the GIANTS' all time games record-holder.

In the mix: 

There’s a bit for the match committee to work through this week for the GIANTS. Forward Jesse Hogan has had his training loads managed over the last three weeks after reporting soreness following the team’s pre-season practice match in Albury last month.  
Nick Haynes has been managing some stomach issues but played a full game in a VFL practice match on the weekend. Both will need to get through full training on Thursday to put their hands up for selection. Ruckman Braydon Preuss could make his club debut this weekend after missing the opening round through suspension. Meanwhile, second-year wingman Ryan Angwin has impressed over pre-season and was strong in the VFL last weekend after being named an emergency for the AFL.

Richmond has overcome the loss of several key players to beat the GIANTS by 36 points in the first MCG clash between the clubs since the Tigers' 2019 AFL premiership.

Half-backs Jayden Short and Nathan Broad were prominent and former captain Trent Cotchin also starred as the Tigers led for most of the game to win 16.13 (109) to 10.13 (73).

Phil Davis (hamstring) and Daniel Lloyd (forearm) were also hurt as the GANTS fell to a 0-2 start to the season, while Richmond rebounded from last week's loss to Carlton.

Noah Balta kicked four goals for the Tigers, while GIANTS on-baller Callan Ward had 28 disposals in his 250th game and teammate Tom Green had a game-high 34 possessions.

Some of the most important players from the 2017-20 premiership three-peat were missing on Sunday - Dustin Martin is taking time off for personal reasons, while fellow frontliners Dion Prestia, co-captain Dylan Grimes and Jack Riewoldt are all injured.

But the Tigers played with much more system and poise than the GIANTS.

Despite ideal conditions, the teams managed only one goal apiece in a scrappy opening where field umpire Ray Chamberlain also struggled.

Chamberlain was ill on the field, but ran out the game.

Late in the first term, Lloyd and teammate Jake Riccardi collided on the wing and Lloyd was taken to hospital for X-rays on his arm.

After the GIANTS kicked the first goal of the second term to take the lead, the Tigers broke the game open.

Richmond speedster Shai Bolton sparked the surge with two goals and they kicked another two to lead by 20 points.

A the GIANTS fought back, veteran key defender Phil Davis dived to chase down Noah Balta as he ran into goal, the veteran defender ripping his left hamstring in the process and handing Balta a free kick for a trip.

Davis immediately put his hand up as he lay on the ground, well aware he had suffered a serious injury.

The GIANTS were still in with a chance when Josh Kelly kicked his third goal and reduced the margin to 20 points in the last term.

But a three-goal run sealed the win for the Tigers.

Davis' hammies can't outrun Father Time

From 2016 to 2019 the GIANTS finished top six each year, reaching three preliminary finals and one Grand Final. Not coincidentally full-back Phil Davis played 21 or more matches in each of those seasons. He's managed a total of 21 over the past two years with injuries to his aging legs restricting his availability. Unfortunately it looks like the GIANTS could be without their defensive general again, at least for a few weeks after what looked like a nasty hamstring injury ended his game in the second quarter. It might not quite be a case of 'no Phil, no finals', but after watching his shut-down job on Lance Franklin last week there's no doubt the GIANTS will miss his ability to negate the game's best.

Put this one in the Nank-tank

If you want a ruckman to make his presence felt in a physical contest you call for Toby Nankervis. If you want a big man to drop in a hole to cut off opposition scoring thrusts you call for Toby Nankervis. If you want a dexterous and creative forward to put their hand up for Goal of the Year you don't call for Toby Nankervis. Or maybe you do. 'Nank the Tank' kicked one out of somebody else's box on Saturday, winning a boundary throw in close to goal, tapping it again out of opposition hands, then throwing his leg at the ball mid-air only to see it sail through from the angle. It may not win the car, but it should at least deliver a big-screen TV!

Who wants to be king?

The respective games of Stephen Coniglio and Trent Cotchin on Sunday showed the difference a little less responsibility can make on an individual's input. Coniglio's numbers suffered across the board after being handed the sole captaincy role at the GIANTS in 2020, but his two games this year have seen him return to his best after Josh Kelly and Toby Greene were promoted to share the top job. And three-time premiership skipper Cotchin handed over the leadership in an effort to find top form in his late career, something he seems to have done over the opening fortnight. Comic genius Mel Brooks once said "It's great to be king", but sometimes a crown can be a bit too heavy on the head.

RICHMOND                              1.5    7.7    11.9    16.13 (109)
GIANTS                                      1.2    4.5    7.9      10.13 (73)

GOALS

Richmond: Balta 4, Lynch 3, Bolton 2, Soldo 2, Baker, Castagna, Edwards, Nankervis, Ralphsmith
GIANTS: Coniglio 2, Himmelberg 2, Taranto 2, Kelly 2, Brander, Bruhn

BEST

Richmond: Short, Cotchin, Pickett, Nankervis, Balta, Rioli, Broad
GIANTS: Coniglio, Kelly, Taranto, Green, Perryman

INJURIES

Richmond: Dow (TBC)
GIANTS: Lloyd (arm), Davis (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES

Richmond: Jake Aarts, replaced Thomson Dow in the fourth quarter
GIANTS: Matt de Boer, replaced Daniel Lloyd in the second quarter.