Where and When: Saturday July 9, 7.30pm, Adelaide Oval
Last time they met:
The GIANTS last played the Power in round 20 of last season, in Melbourne during the team’s many weeks on the road. The GIANTS were fighting for a spot in the top eight at the time – that would come a couple of weeks later – but found the top-four bound Port side a touch too tough, reigning in their 27-point lead during the third quarter before letting it bounce back out late. Charlie Dixon kicked four goals for the Power, with Peter Ladhams (three goals) and Mitch Georgiades (two goals) fed well by Ollie Wines and Travis Boak. Daniel Lloyd kicked three of the GIANTS’ 11 goals and Toby Greene added two after being released from the AFL’s Health and Safety Protocols. Josh Kelly fought the fight in the midfield with help from Jacob Hopper, whose game ended early after an awful kick to the head during a smother effort.
Broadcast:
Saturday’s match will be shown live on 7mate in NSW and the ACT from 7:30pm and across the Seven Network as well as on Fox Sports 3 and Kayo nationally. 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 and ABC Radio.
For the latest TV and radio broadcast guide, click here.
What it means for the GIANTS:
The GIANTS have won three times under interim coach Mark McVeigh now, but some tough teams are on the way, starting with this one. After their 0-5 start to the season the Power have recovered well enough to be back in the top eight mix. But they need to keep playing well and winning in order to make it in, so for the GIANTS it’s a chance to take on a good team in pretty good form in front of a hostile crowd, and see where their own game is really at.
Where’s the opposition at?
Port fell to Fremantle last weekend, losing by nine points at Optus Stadium. That left them sitting two wins outside the top eight, and they need to keep winning to make it. Lachie Jones is out with a hamstring injury, and Dan Houston and Xavier Duursma are unlikely to play, but they have Zak Butters, Riley Bonner, Tom Clurey and Scott Lycett all in the mix to return.
Player watch:
Callum Brown has worked his way into some good form over the last six or seven weeks playing as a defender in the VFL side; thrown into last week’s side at the last minute in place of Lachie Keeffe he headed into the forward line and did not look all fazed. Brown’s speed and pressure got him into the game and the Irishman made the most of his chances on a wet and windy day that must have reminded him of home. With four goals, six tackles and six score involvements – after being the unused medical sub one week earlier - the 21-year-old played himself into game No.5.
Callum Brown Appreciation Post. pic.twitter.com/rwwugCDEJS
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) July 3, 2022
In the mix:
Midfielder Jacob Hopper made a successful return from his knee injury in the VFL on the weekend, finishing with 18 disposals and a goal to come back into the frame. Cam Fleeton finished the game sore, but has pulled up pretty well and continues to push his name forward. Jake Riccardi and Wade Derksen were both lively in the forward line during last week’s extremely wet VFL clash with Box Hill and are ready to be called upon, as is Cooper Hamilton and Jake Stein, while Will Shaw had the best game of his season and has speed and skill to consider. James Peatling has missed two matches with a hamstring strain, and needs to get through training this week to put his hand up, but Matt de Boer isn’t ready to return from his concussion. Leek Aleer will come back this week via the VFL, and will put pressure on for a senior spot soon.
