The GIANTS kick-start Pride Round with a mid-week clash with Saints as one of two games for the club across round seven.

Match Information:

St Kilda v GIANTS
Tuesday, October 8 at 7:15pm
Kinetic Stadium | Boon Wurrung/Bunerong Country

State of Play:  

The GIANTS return to Melbourne for their second game there in six days as they kick-start Pride Round in a Tuesday night clash with the Saints in Frankston.

After a few days recovering back in Sydney over the weekend, the GIANTS return to Melbourne to take on the Saints at Kinetic Stadium following their clash with the Demons at IKON Park last Thursday night.

The GIANTS were slow out of the blocks in Thursday’s game and despite a strong second half – winning both the third and fourth quarters – were unable to make up the early deficit as the Demons registered a 16-point win.

While matching it with the home side in most areas across the first half, the GIANTS were unable to capitalise on the scoreboard, entering the main break with five behinds to their name as the Dees piled on 4.3 (27).

In just her third game back from an ACL, Brodee Mowbray was dynamic ahead of the footy with two goals to spark the GIANTS in the third quarter, while Madison Brazendale’s (18 disposals, three rebound-50s) tireless running on the wing was also a highlight.

After falling short 3.7 (25) to 6.5 (41) to the ‘Dees, the GIANTS will be hoping the stellar form of leaders Bec Beeson and Alyce Parker can continue as they look to take down the Saints, with the duo averaging 23 and 23.5 touches respectively in brilliant campaigns to date.

 The Opposition:

The Saints will welcome the GIANTS to town following an up and down season to date, having won their opening three games before losing their last three.

Sitting at 3-3, the Saint will enter Tuesday’s game following a tough four-point loss to the Crows in Adelaide last Friday night.

With not much more than a goal separating the sides all night, the Saints fought hard until the end in enemy territory but fell just short, 3.8 (26) to 3.4 (22).

The Saints will be hoping for another similar performance from Tyanna Smith on Tuesday against the GIANTS, with the midfielder finishing with 22 touches and 13 tackles against the Crows on Friday.

Recent History:  

While the GIANTS have won two of the last three meetings between the sides, it was the Saints who were victorious in the most recent clash, winning 7.6 (48) to 5.5 (35) at Moorabbin in round seven last year.

Leading at every change, the Saints were too good across the day as they registered their fourth straight win with the 13-point victory.

Despite the loss the GIANTS had several strong performers, with Zarlie Goldsworthy (two goals, 18 disposals, nine tackles), Alicia Eva (24 disposals) and Rebecca Beeson (19 disposals, nine tackles) all prolific.

While Alyce Parker (one goal, 24 disposals, eight tackles) was immense despite playing through an ankle injury suffered in the third term that would later require season-ending surgery.

In The Mix: 

Mikayla Pauga is a likely inclusion into Tuesday’s side having served her two-game suspension for rough conduct following a tackle against the Swans in round four.

Others to come into consideration will be Courtney Murphy, Caitlin Miller and Jemma Ramsdale who were all emergencies last week.

Team Selection:  

The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Saints at 6:20pm on Monday at gwsgiants.com.au.

Where to Watch:

The GIANTS’ round seven clash with the Saints will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on 7Mate in NSW and the ACT from 7pm on Thursday.

Social Media:

Follow the GIANTS on Instagram at @GWSGIANTSAFLW,  and be part of the #BigBigSound in 2024.

St Kilda is back on the winners list for the first time in four games with an emphatic 34-point victory over the GIANTS on Tuesday night at Kinetic Stadium in Frankston.

The damage was done by the Saints in the first half, before running out 7.7 (49) to 2.3 (15) winners in the opening game of the AFLW's Pride Round.

Jesse Wardlaw proved too strong up forward for the Saints with three goals, while gun midfielder Jaimee Lambert was superb around the ground with 27 disposals and 11 tackles, though she could face scrutiny for a dangerous tackle on Alyce Parker early in the last term.

Parker led the way for the GIANTS with 30 touches and 10 clearances, with veteran Alicia Eva kicking the side's only two goals of the game.

The win lifts Nick Dal Santo's team up to seventh on the ladder and keeps them in the hunt for finals, while the GIANTS are languishing third from bottom.

The visitors largely maintained possession in their forward half for the first five minutes of the game, with the first point to their local debutant Jemma Ramsdale, who was called up late. Her contingent of family and friends would have been pleased with her early performance with three intercept possessions to quarter-time.

However, it was 50-game Saint Darcy Guttridge who drew first blood, followed by teammate Wardlaw taking a huge mark overhead and converting.

Tyanna Smith then had the home crowd up and about with an incredible passage of play. After marking, she went for a run, taking a bounce and sending the ball over the top to teammate Maddie Boyd. Boyd sent it back her way and she ran into the forward 50, straightening up to score to lead by 19 points at the first break.

It was reminiscent of what have become characteristic slow starts for the GIANTS. They had their chances early in the second term but couldn't take them, including a snap from Rising Star winner Zarlie Goldsworthy missing to the right. It meant they went into half-time without a goal to their name.

Wardlaw converted on a slight angle after a contested mark 35m out, before Ash Richards took a great contested grab juggling it to the ground and lined up to send it straight through the middle.

Meanwhile, a forward 50 spillage had teammate J'Noemi Anderson spearing it through off the ground on her right in the goalsquare, on the way to a 37-point half-time lead for the Saints.

The third quarter was a fast-paced, contested tussle. The GIANTS lifted early with a bit of déjà vu, winning the centre clearance twice and a couple of Eva snaps bringing the GIANTS their first two goals.

Despite the pressure, the Saints were able to stem the flow for the rest of the quarter, taking strong intercept marks and even sending Wardlaw down back for the last few minutes.

In the final quarter, the Saints defended desperately, kicking the ball out of bounds on the full three times in an attempt to get it out of their defensive 50. But again, the GIANTS couldn't capitalise with stoppage after stoppage holding up play.

About halfway through the quarter, Wardlaw took a strong mark 25m out from goal and converted for her third of the day to put a full stop on the evening.

The loss was soured further for the GIANTS when Annise Bradfield was carried off in visible pain at the end of the match.

The win bolsters the Saints' hopes of a maiden finals berth, while the GIANTS are still seeking their first win since their round one demolition of the Western Bulldogs.

ST KILDA     3.2       6.3       6.5       7.7 (49)
GIANTS        0.1       0.2       2.2       2.3 (15)

GOALS

St Kilda: Wardlaw 3, Guttridge, Smith, Richards, Anderson
GIANTS: Eva 2

BEST 

St Kilda: Lambert, Smith, Wardlaw, Simpson, Fiedler
GIANTS: Parker, Beeson, Goldsworthy, Randall 

INJURIES 

St Kilda: Nil
GIANTS: Bradfield (leg)

LATE CHANGES

St Kilda: Nil
GIANTS: Tarni Evans (leg) replaced in selected side by Jemma Ramsdale (debut)

Reports: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Kinetic Stadium