Where and When: Saturday, May 7 at 4:35pm, Manuka Oval 

Last time they met: 

Geelong was the club that put an end to the GIANTS’ late-season surge in 2021, beating them by 35 points in a semi-final played at Optus Stadium in Perth. Missing the suspended Toby Greene and an injured Jesse Hogan, the GIANTS hung in there during the first half, conceding five game-breaking goals in the third term then forcing the margin back to 20 points during the last quarter before going on to lose. Tom Hawkins was tough to stop – just a few weeks after being well beaten by Sam Taylor he kicked five of Geelong’s 15 goals – with Jeremy Cameron and Esava Ratugolea helping stretch the GIANTS’ defence. Lachie Whitfield and Nick Haynes were among the better performing GIANTS, with Conor Stone kicking two goals on his return to the team and Harry Himmelberg adding another two.

Broadcast: 

Saturday’s match will be shown live on 7mate in NSW and the ACT from 4:30pm and Fox Footy 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. For the latest television and radio broadcast guide, click here. 

What it means for the GIANTS: 

Last week’s win over Adelaide was both a big relief and another chance to get the season going, with the GIANTS playing the best, quickest and most exciting footy for the year in the first half against the Crows. At 2-5 the season is still alive and this game against the Cats starts a little run of home games for the GIANTS, with matches in Canberra and GIANTS Stadium over the next few weeks.

Where’s the opposition at?

Geelong are a tough opponent year on year, and this season is no different. The Cats fell to Fremantle by three points at home last week, but still sit inside the top eight with four wins from their seven games. The Cats are hoping to regain Patrick Dangerfield from injury this week – he’s missed two matches after sustaining a bad cork – and have both Rhys Stanley (ankle) and Sam Menegola (knee) in the mix, but have lost youngster Max Holmes to an ankle injury. Ratugolea and Zach Guthrie were emergencies last week, and Luke Dahlhaus came on as the medical sub to replace Holmes.

Player watch:

Isaac Cumming is putting together some season, and becoming one of the team’s most important players in the process. The 23-year-old had an excellent 2021 season but has been better again this year, going from strength to strength with his defending and using his beautiful right boot to get the GIANTS moving off half-back. According to Champion Data, across the last 54 games he rates elite in the competition for disposals, intercepts, intercept marks and metres gained, as well as above average for kicking and one-on-one defending.

In the mix: 

There are plenty. And with the AFL side getting through unscathed against the Crows, some may have to push their case a little longer. Pretty much every GIANT played well in the VFL side’s win over the Northern Bullants, with Tanner Bruhn, Xavier O’Halloran, Jacob Wehr and James Peatling among the better players. Kieren Briggs dominated in the ruck and Jake Riccardi kicked an incredible nine goals. Jake Stein and Leek Aleer are ready to go should the backline need them, and Josh Fahey continues to go from strength to strength in his first year at the club, playing as a running half-back. Conor Stone returned from injury in that match, as did Zach Sproule, and both will push for a spot once their match fitness is back.