When and Where: 

Sunday, July 23 at 1:10pm
Manuka Oval | Ngunnawal Country

What it Means for the GIANTS: 

The GIANTS continue to knock down the door of the top eight following their fifth win on the trot last weekend. With consecutive wins against North Melbourne, Fremantle, Melbourne, Hawthorn, and Adelaide, the GIANTS could finally find themselves inside the top eight with victory over the Suns in Canberra on Sunday afternoon.

Adding further importance to Sunday’s clash, GIANTS Academy product Harry Perryman will play game number 100 after making his AFL debut for the club as a fresh-faced 18-year-old back in 2017. Perryman will be just the fourth GIANTS Academy product to play 100 games for the club this weekend, joining Zac Williams, Jacob Hopper and Harry Himmelberg.

Last Time We Met: 

The GIANTS sealed their first win of the 2022 season with a 12.11 (83) to 8.9 (57) victory over the Gold Coast at GIANTS Stadium last year. The GIANTS’ midfield proved the difference, with Stephen Coniglio and club debutant Braydon Preuss joined by Tom Green and Tim Taranto in setting the tone around the ground.

The GIANTS won the clearances 54-35 as Coniglio collected 32 disposals and a game-high 10 clearances in a stirring display through the midfield. Harry Himmelberg (three goals) and Jesse Hogan (two goals) ensured the GIANTS’ midfield dominance was reflected on the scoreboard.

Where’s the opposition at? 

Gold Coast capped off a difficult week last week in the best way possible, breaking a seven-year drought against St Kilda with a 26-point win. Just five days after the departure of senior coach Stuart Dew, the Suns prevailed 11.11 (77) to 8.3 (51) at Heritage Bank Stadium. It was the first time they'd beaten the Saints since 2016, breaking an eight-game losing streak, and moving them within a game of the top eight.

GIANTS Player to Watch: 

Harry Perryman will make his 100^th appearance for the GIANTS this weekend. The Collingullie product has gone from strength to strength to become an important cog in the GIANTS’ side since his debut in 2017. Playing predominately across half-back but also able to impact in the midfield, Perryman is currently averaging 17.9 disposals and 4.5 tackles for the GIANTS this season.

In the Mix: 

Adam Kingsley is hopeful of regaining midfielder Finn Callaghan (hip) for Sunday’s clash in Canberra. Callaghan was a late withdrawal last weekend, replaced in the side by Aaron Cadman. Nick Haynes will come back into contention after serving his one-match suspension, with Harry Rowston, Cameron Fleeton and Josh Fahey – who backed up after playing as the sub against the Crows - all impressing at VFL level.

VFL:

GIANTS v Gold Coast Suns
Sunday, July 23 at 9:25am
Manuka Oval | Ngunnawal Country

All VFL matches will be live streamed free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. 

Visit: afl.com.au/stream-vfl and follow the links. All matches will be available to watch on demand.

Rehab Report:

Get a full injury update ahead Sunday’s clash with the Gold Coast, here.

Where to watch: 

Sunday’s match will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on Channel 7 in NSW and the ACT from 1pm.

The GIANTS are inside the top eight for the first time since round one, grabbing a sixth straight win with a 40-point triumph against Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon.

Six of the third quarter's seven goals saw the GIANTS turn an arm-wrestle into a comfortable win at Manuka Oval, with skipper Toby Greene's three majors crucial in getting them across the line.

Adam Kingsley's side is now 10-8 and a massive chance to play finals in his first season in charge, after the GIANTS' campaign looked close to dead when they were 4-8 after round 12.

Greene became the hugely influential forward-half factor his side needed as the game wore on, taking some clever marks and creating chances for his teammates while booting 3.4.

Stifled early by a Suns outfit intent on keeping their season alive, the GIANTS' slick running game emerged as proceedings wore on, with prime movers Lachie Whitfield, Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly joined by halfback Lachie Ash to slice through the middle at will and deliver the GIANTS scoring chances.

The GIANTS found six different individual goalscorers in an explosive third term, none better than Toby Bedford’s snap seconds before the siren after some dazzling work from fellow forward Brent Daniels to break 31 points clear.

It was a disappointing fade-out from a Suns side who began their afternoon in Canberra playing high-pressure footy.

Led by a six-clearance term from Sam Flanders and Jack Lukosuis' creativity around goal, they had pinched a seven-point quarter-time lead they'd thoroughly deserved.

But the GIANTS hit back with three straight goals in the second and looked to break free as Greene took over, only for late majors for Ben Ainsworth and Lukosius to get the Suns to the half down just two points.

Flanders finished with 31 disposals and nine clearances and was comfortably his side's best.

Suns defender Sam Collins was also strong with 22 touches and 11 marks.

Greene on ice early

Toby Greene was as dangerous as ever in the first three quarter, kicking 3.4 and lighting up Manuka Oval. But with the game firmly in hand in the fourth term, Adam Kingsley subbed Greene out of the game. The move was purely tactical, with Greene saying post-game the move was just so he could "freshen up" ahead of next week's clash against rivals the Western Bulldogs.

A GIANT headache for forwards

Gold Coast's forwards had their work cut out for them on Sunday, with the GIANTS' defence a near-impenetrable force. Sam Taylor (10 marks) continued his excellent form since returning from a hamstring injury, with fellow tall defenders Harry Himmelberg (11 intercept possessions) and Jack Buckley (10) intercepting everything in sight. The trio kept Gold Coast forward Ben King goalless, and held Levi Casboult to just one goal.

GIANTS                                        3.2   6.7   12.8   15.13 (103)
GOLD COAST                               4.3    6.5   7.7     9.9    (63)

GOALS 

GIANTS: Greene 3, Brown 2, Daniels 2, Riccardi 2, Cummings, Lloyd, Kelly, Angwin, Bedford, Coniglio
Gold Coast: Lukosius 3, Ainsworth 2, Hollands 2, Oea, Casboult

BEST 

GIANTS: Himmelberg, Taylor, Whitfield, Daniels, Coniglio, Greene
Gold Coast: Flanders, Lukosius, Witts, Collins, Atkins, Powell

SUBSTITUTES 

GIANTS: Josh Fahey (replaced Toby Greene during the fourth quarter)
Gold Coast: Jy Farrar (replaced Hewago Oea at three-quarter-time)

Crowd: 10,026 at Manuka Oval