When and Where:

Collingwood v GIANTS
Friday, September 22 at 7:50pm
MCG | Wurundjeri Country

What it Means for the GIANTS:

The GIANTS will look to continue their blistering form when the Orange Tsunami rolls into Melbourne to take on the rested Magpies in a preliminary final blockbuster at the ‘G.

With a spot in the grand final on the line, the GIANTS will enter Friday’s clash riding a wave of momentum following their impressive 23-point win over the Power in Adelaide on Saturday night.

The GIANTS silenced an opposing hostile home crowd for the second week running with a powerful 13.15 (93) to 9.16 (70) win built on the back of a scintillating five goal to one second quarter.

With their strangling defence and rapid ball movement on full display, the GIANTS scored 5.7 (37) to Port’s 1.5 (11) in a dominant second term to burst out to a match-winning 29-point half-time lead.

While the GIANTS only registered three more inside-50s than the Power (56 v 53), they dominated the home side in several key areas to claim the crucial victory, winning disposals (+95), uncontested possessions (+74), clearances (+16), and contested possessions (+19) by huge margins to control the majority of the match.

The GIANTS have now won 11 of their past 13 matches after starting the season at 4-8.

While the minor premiers and their black and white army awaits on Friday night, the GIANTS and their Orange Army will enter the ‘G with no fear, having won a league-high nine of their 15 away games this season, including huge road wins over the Saints and the Power in the first two weeks of finals.

In a sense of déjà vu, the last time the GIANTS played off in a preliminary final was in 2019 where they were able to overcome their upcoming opponent in a thrilling upset at the MCG.

A win in Friday’s final would see the GIANTS remarkably reach a second AFL grand final despite their brief 12-year existence.

Last Time We Met:

It was a dog day afternoon for the GIANTS the last time they faced Collingwood as the Magpies registered a 65-point win at the MCG in round nine.

Missing skipper Toby Greene, the GIANTS lacked their usual spark as the home side burst out to a 32-point half-time lead before continuing their rampage in the second half to run out 18.12 (120) to 7.13 (55) winners. 

Collingwood’s 18.12 (120) total was the second biggest score conceded by the GIANTS this season, only eclipsed by Port Adelaide’s 21.10 (136) in round 22.

If the GIANTS are to rectify the round nine performance on Friday, they’ll need to make it much tougher on Collingwood and their ability to score from inside-50s. In the round nine clash the ‘Pies had just two more inside-50s than the GIANTS despite winning by more than 10 goals, converting a season-best 59 per cent of their inside-50s into scores in a clinical offensive performance.

The GIANTS have gone 12-4 since the loss to Collingwood and will have an opportunity to atone for their prior performance with a grand final appearance on the line on Friday.

Where’s the Opposition at? 

While the GIANTS will enter Friday’s clash on a six-day break, Collingwood will be well rested after having not played since their nail-biting seven-point win over Melbourne in week one of the finals.

Leading throughout the entire match, the ‘Pies withheld a late fightback from the Demons to book a spot in Friday’s final with a 9.6 (60) to 7.11 (53) victory at the MCG.

After being dealt a blow with news that veteran onballer Taylor Adams would miss Friday’s clash with a low-grade hamstring injury, Collingwood were given a major boost on Monday with young gun Nick Daicos ruled fit and available.

Daicos hasn’t played since suffering a hairline fracture in his knee in Collingwood’s round 21 loss to Hawthorn on August 5 but will face the GIANTS after being deemed ready for battle.

GIANTS Player to Watch: 

Toby Greene has shown time and time again that he thrives on performing on the big stage. And with Friday’s preliminary final already sold out, expect Greene to be gearing up for another trademark performance in front of nearly 100,000 fans at the MCG.

Green will enter Friday’s prelim on the back of the best season of his stellar career, not only being selected in the All-Australian side for a second time but named captain for the first time in his career.

With 64 goals to his name to date this season, the highest tally of his career, Greene will be hoping to continue his stellar year against Collingwood on Friday following his key role in the win over the Power on Saturday.

In a starring performance, Greene kicked the GIANTS first two goals of the game against Port Adelaide as well as the dagger deep in time on in the final term to cut out any chance of a Power revival.

The dynamic forward finished the night with 15 disposals, 3.2, and six marks to play a key part in the semi-final win and will be hoping for a similar performance on Friday in search of a ticket to the grand final.

In the Mix:

With no injuries to come out of their big semi-final win over Port Adelaide, Adam Kingsley will have almost his entire playing list to choose from for Friday’s preliminary final with the Magpies.

GIANTS veteran Nick Haynes, utility Ryan Angwin, and ruckman Braydon Preuss could come into consideration after being named as emergencies in last week’s win over the Power.

Rehab Report: 

Get a full injury update ahead of Friday’s clash with the ‘Pies here. 

Where to Watch:  

Coverage of the GIANTS’ clash with Collingwood will be shown live and free on Channel 7 from 7pm on Friday as well as live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally from 6:50pm.

Collingwood held on for dear life to beat a gallant GIANTS side by just one point to progress to the AFL Grand Final.

The game was in the balance right up until the final siren, keeping the crowd of 97,665 on the edge of their seats as the GIANTS bench urged their teammates to run forward at all costs.

But the Pies threw as many numbers as possible around the ball, clogging it down in the middle of the ground in a reversal of the preliminary final between the two sides from four years ago.

Josh Daicos found some rare space on the wing in the final few seconds, securing the 8.10 (58) to 8.9 (57) win as the MCG literally shook, such were the crowd celebrations on the final siren.

The GIANTS had got out to a 17-point lead early in the third term, but playing their third final in three weeks, struggled to maintain their ballistic gamestyle for all four quarters, finding a second wind late (and a Jesse Hogan goal) to push the Pies all the way to the finish.

Collingwood clung onto its one-point lead for six minutes and 18 seconds, including a game-saving mark from Steele Sidebottom after Toby Greene's snap was on-line.

The Pies kicked the only two goals of the first quarter, capitalising on a slight edge in inside 50s as the GIANTS backline settled into the game.

The second quarter has been when the GIANTS have put teams to the sword this finals series, and while they weren't quite as ballistic as last week's efforts against Port Adelaide, the GIANTS were able to pick their way through Collingwood's full-ground zone with relative ease.

First it was Toby Greene, then Tom Green, and then the skipper set up Isaac Cumming and suddenly, after being goalless in the first term, the GIANTS took a 10-point lead into half-time.

The GIANTS even kicked the first of the third, making it five straight goals, before Collingwood finally steadied enough to hit a target inside 50, a former GIANT in Bobby Hill ending the Pies' 62-minute goalless streak.

Collingwood rediscovered its drive off half-back, opening up the game through Jeremy Howe, Scott Pendlebury and Isaac Quaynor, with Jack Crisp and Pat Lipinski also lifting in the middle.

Substitute and fan favourite Jack Ginnivan's first touch – a wild shot on goal at the start of the fourth term – was greeted with a wall of noise, the lively small replacing key forward Dan McStay (knee) at three-quarter time.

Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley were simply superb in defence for the GIANTS, with Lachie Whitfield running hard all game off half-back. 

COLLINGWOOD                        2.2     2.6     7.7     8.10     (58)
GIANTS                                       0.3     4.1     6.9     8.9    (57) 

GOALS

Collingwood: McStay 2, Crisp, Hill, Elliott, McCreery, Mihocek, Cox
GIANTS: Greene 2, Green, Cumming, Riccardi, Brown, Lloyd, Hogan

BEST

Collingwood: De Goey, Crisp, Pendlebury, Quaynor, N.Daicos, Cox
GIANTS: Green, Greene, Taylor, Whitfield, Hogan, Coniglio

INJURIES

Collingwood: McStay (knee)
GIANTS: Nil 

SUBSTITUTES

Collingwood: Jack Ginnivan (replaced McStay at three-quarter time)
GIANTS: Xavier O'Halloran (replaced Ward in the fourth quarter) 

Crowd: 97,665 at the MCG