When and Where:

Saturday, September 9 at 3:20pm
MCG | Wurundjeri Country 

What it Means for the GIANTS:

It’s do or die for the GIANTS as they look to remain in the premiership race with victory over the Saints in enemy territory at the ‘G on Saturday afternoon.

After a slow start to their tenure under new coach Adam Kingsley, sitting 15^th with a 4-8 record at round 13, the GIANTS have since found their mojo to win nine of their past 11 matches, equal with Carlton as the best record in the AFL across that span.

The blistering late-season surge saw the GIANTS register a new club-record seven-match winning streak between rounds 13-20, before following it up with crucial wins over the Bombers and the Blues to round out the home and away season.

Following their record-breaking 126-point smashing of Essendon in round 23, the GIANTS backed it up with an equally impressive 32-point win over Carlton to punch its ticket to the finals. The crucial win not only booked the GIANTS a spot in September, but also put an end to the Blues’ nine-game winning streak.

Riding a wave of momentum into September, the GIANTS will now clash with the inconsistent Saints who finished one spot above the GIANTS in sixth to earn a home final.

Saturday’s elimination final between the GIANTS and the Saints will be the first time the two sides have ever met in a final, and just the GIANTS’ second and the Saints’ third game at the MCG this season. The GIANTS singular visit to the ‘G ended in defeat to Collingwood, while the Saints are 1-1 in their two outings at the iconic venue this season.

Last Time We Met:

It was St Kilda who reigned supreme the only prior time the sides have met this season, with Saints spearhead Max King kicking four goals in his first match of the year to help secure a 13.14 (92) to 12.8 (80) victory in round 10 at GIANTS Stadium.

In a gripping contest, no more than four points separated the sides at the first three breaks before the Saints outscored the GIANTS two goals to one in a gritty final term to register a tough-fought 12-point win.

While the GIANTS won the clearance battle by 12 in the loss, the Saints were able to dominate possession, winning both the contested (158 v 143) and uncontested (246 v 206) battle convincingly.

Lachie Whitfield (32 touches) and Tom Green (29 touches, nine clearances) had strong games for the GIANTS despite the result, while vice-captains Stephen Coniglio (26 disposals, one goal) and Josh Kelly (24 touches, one goal) also performed well.

Brent Daniels (24 touches, two goals), Toby Greene (16 disposals, two goals), and Jesse Hogan (14 disposals, two goals) were the GIANTS’ best ahead of the ball.

For the Saints, Jack Sinclair (37 touches), Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (29 touches), and skipper Jack Steele (25 touches) found plenty of the ball, while King (11 touches, eight marks, four goals) was the dominant forward on the ground.

Where’s the Opposition at?

St Kilda will enter just its second finals campaign since 2011 when current and former coach Ross Lyon shockingly departed the club following their elimination final loss to the Swans.

In his second stint at the helm, ‘Ross the Boss’ has taken the Saints from last season’s tenth-placed finish to sixth in 2023, registering 13 wins and 10 losses from 23 games.

But despite their improvement under Lyon, the Saints will enter the finals following an inconsistent patch of form, winning just five of their last 11 matches and only registering consecutive victories once in that same period.

In their most recent outing, a round 24 clash with Brisbane, the Saints fought valiantly but fell short to the Lions by 12 points at the Gabba.

After some wayward kicking early by the home side, the Saints pounced on the Lions with three quick goals to snatch the lead early in the second half before Brisbane rallied to run out 9.18 (72) to 9.6 (60) winners.

Jack Sinclair (30 touches) and Brad Couch (26 touches) were prolific in the loss, while Tim Membrey (three goals) was the Saints’ most impactful forward.

The Saints enter the pointy end of the season as the second-least experienced side participating in this year’s finals series, with 19 players on St Kilda’s list having at least one AFL finals game experience, while the GIANTS have 21.

GIANTS Player to Watch:

 Kieren Briggs is set to play in his first final on Saturday against the Saints after emerging as one of the competition’s brightest young ruckmen in the back half of the 2023 season.

Since given an opportunity in round 10, coincidentally against the Saints, Briggs has quickly become one of the GIANTS’ most crucial players in their push towards September.

Playing in 14 straight games since the clash with the Saints, the 23-year-old has averaged almost 16 disposals per game to go along with 6.4 clearances, 4.8 tackles, and 26 hitouts per outing.

Briggs’ 6.4 clearances per game have him ranked number one in the competition among all ruckmen, while he ranks third for tackles per game and sixth for possessions among his adversaries.

On Saturday, the promising ruckman will be tasked with taking on one of the competition’s best and most established ruckmen, Rowan Marshall, with the contest sure to have a major say on the outcome of the clash.

Meanwhile star swingman Harry Himmelberg will play his 150^th AFL game against the Saints. The major milestone will see Himmelberg awarded Life Membership of the GIANTS. After being drafted to the club via a first-round pick in the 2015 AFL Draft, Himmelberg has proven himself as one of the most dynamic players in the competition.

In the Mix:

Several GIANTS will come into consideration to take on the Saints, with star key defender Sam Taylor and emerging midfielder Finn Callaghan ramping up their training during the week in a bid to return on Saturday.

One of the best defenders in the competition, Taylor injured his hamstring in round 23 against Essendon and was forced to watch the GIANTS crucial final round clash with the Blues on the sidelines.

Taylor, along with Callaghan, who last played in round 21 against the Swans after managing ongoing achilles soreness, will both look to train fully on Thursday to push their case for selection against the Saints.

Meanwhile, Xavier O’Halloran and Braydon Preuss both performed strongly in a scrimmage against the Swans on the weekend of the Carlton clash and are available for selection.

Toby Bedford (suspension) will need to overturn his one-match ban at the AFL Appeal Board on Thursday in order to be available against the Saints.

For St Kilda, full forward Max King is in line to return after being managed against Brisbane in round 24, while Dougal Howard and Josh Battle are both available.

Meanwhile Seb Ross is racing the clock to be fit in time for Saturday’s clash as he attempts to overcome a persistent hamstring injury. Jack Billings could also come into consideration after being in the Saints’ 26-man squad for their most recent clash with the Lions.

Rehab Report:

Get a full injury update ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Saints here.  

Where to Watch:

Saturday’s match will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on Channel 7 from 3pm.

The GIANTS have progressed to the second week of September for the sixth time in eight seasons after a resilient 24-point elimination final win against St Kilda at the MCG on Saturday.

The Orange Tsunami was back on the big stage after a one-year absence, but this time under first-year coach Adam Kingsley, bringing a relentless mix of grit and flair to see off several challenges from the Saints and win 15.11 (101) to 11.11 (77).

It continued an excellent record for the club, which has won at least one final in all its finals campaigns, including the first five under previous coach Leon Cameron, when the 2019 Grand Finalists were first dubbed the 'Orange Tsunami'.

The GIANTS, whose run and dare was a key factor on Saturday, will hit the road next week after booking a semi-final place against the loser of Saturday night's clash between Brisbane and Port Adelaide at the Gabba.

It is season over for the Saints, who twice fell more than 40 points behind but never gave up in the first final between the two clubs. There was ultimately a gulf in class at the top end, however, as the GIANTS' runners set the tone.

Experienced pair Lachie Whitfield (31 disposals and seven inside 50s) and Josh Kelly (27 and two goals) who were both there when the team last played a final at the MCG in the 2019 decider, were outstanding, while young midfielder Tom Green (36 and nine inside 50s) produced a massive finals performance.  

The run of half-back Lachie Ash (31 and 10 rebounds) was critical, with ruckman Kieren Briggs (28 hit-outs and eight clearances) also giving the team an unexpected advantage against Rowan Marshall, with the Giants winning the hit-outs 35-18. 

In an otherwise even team performance that was orchestrated without key midfielder Stephen Coniglio (eye), who was a late withdrawal, Jake Riccardi booted three goals and Toby Bedford (two) stood up in attack after his fortnight of Tribunal uncertainty. 

Two of this year's surprise finalists after appointing new coaches in the off-season, the GIANTS and Saints each entered September in form and went goal for goal early as they fought to get the game on their terms.

It was Kingsley who eventually won out as the GIANTS went on a run of six straight inside 50s and dominated field position, with Green, Kelly and Briggs establishing the midfield ascendency and the defenders pressing up high.

When Brent Daniels converted his 45m set shot, the GIANTS had their highest first-quarter score at the MCG and an 18-point lead at the first break in enemy territory.

They gathered pace to start the second, with Jesse Hogan taking a contested mark to kick his second and Riccardi and Daniel Lloyd snapping accurately. When Daniels got creative in the pocket to find an accurate Kelly with a skilful pass, the GIANTS were in total control and seven goals clear.

Well held to that point, Max King spearheaded the Saints' first challenge, kicking back-to-back goals after prevailing in contests against gun opponent Sam Taylor. Bradley Hill then snapped accurately with five seconds to play in the first half, cutting the margin to 23 points.

The GIANTS had all the answers again in the third as they rebuilt a 43-point lead, holding the Saints' goalless for more than 20 minutes and adding three of their own in what looked like the match-defining period. 

As they had in the second term, however, the Saints struck late and kicked three quick goals on the back of Hill's creative run, including a snap from Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera as the siren was about to sound, to cut the margin to 25 points and set the GIANTS a challenge to finish the job, which they did.

ST KILDA                                    2.3    6.6     9.8    11.11 (77)
GIANTS                                        5.3   10.5   13.9   15.11 (101)

GOALS

St Kilda: King 3, Sharman 2, Hill 2, Higgins, Marshall, Owens, Wanganeen-Milera
GIANTS: Riccardi 3, Bedford 2, Brown 2, Hogan 2, Kelly 2, Callaghan, Greene, Daniels, Lloyd

BEST

St Kilda: Steele, Sharman, Marshall, Wanganeen-Milera, Hill
GIANTS: Green, Kelly, Whitfield, Ash, Briggs, Bedford, Idun  

INJURIES

St Kilda: Wood (eye)
GIANTS: Nil

LATE CHANGES

St Kilda: Nil
GIANTS: Stephen Coniglio (eye) replaced in the selected side by Xavier O'Halloran

SUBSTITUTES

St Kilda: Liam Stocker (replaced Anthony Caminiti at half time)
GIANTS: Nick Haynes (replaced Isaac Cumming in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 68,465 at the MCG