Where and When: Saturday June 18, 7.25pm, GIANTS Stadium

Last time they met:

It’s been a while. The GIANTS and Bulldogs last met way back in round six of the 2021 season, with the Dogs winning by 39 points on a Friday night at Manuka Oval. The GIANTS were in the game for most of the night after an ordinary start to the season, and trailed by just three points at the last break before conceding nine final-quarter goals to lose the match and leave the team with some major work to do to crawl back into the season. Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Adam Treloar and Josh Dunkley were all busy around the ball for the Bulldogs, while Toby Greene kicked four goals for the home side. Lachie Ash registered 35 disposals off the half-backline, with Isaac Cumming’s breakout season also starting to take off.

TV and Online:

Saturday’s AFL match between the GIANTS and Bulldogs will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on 7mate in NSW and the ACT from 7pm.

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 and ABC Radio. For the latest television and radio broadcast guide, click here.

What it means for the GIANTS:

Since Mark McVeigh took over in the coaches box the GIANTS have won two of their three games, albeit against the bottom two sides on the ladder. In that time the team has kicked 21, 15 and 15 goals, an average of 17 goals compared to an average of 10 across the first 10 rounds. It’s been fun to watch, and last week’s win over North pushed the team back above Adelaide and Hawthorn on the ladder, but there are some new things to keep pushing into place and some tough teams to come in the run home, none tougher than the GIANTS’ favourite rival.

Where’s the opposition at?

The Bulldogs sit in 10th spot on the ladder, two wins off the top eight coming out of their bye weekend and a loss to the Cats before that.

Player watch:

Tanner Bruhn has been quietly chipping away at his game throughout his second season, and the rewards are starting to come his way. The 20-year-old has forced his way into more midfield time over the last few weeks, and helped set the team on the right path against the Roos on the weekend with some important early touches. After a 16-possession first half Bruhn finished with 24 touches, two goals, two tackles and three votes in the AFL Coaches Award.

In the mix:

Ryan Angwin and Cam Fleeton are among the players plugging away in the VFL, playing good footy, improving their games and getting themselves ready for whenever their chance comes. Nick Haynes and Braydon Preuss played alongside them on the weekend, and are both a chance to come in. Replacements must be found for Matt de Boer, out with a concussion, and Harry Perryman, nursing four broken ribs. Tim Taranto will test out his injured back at training this week, while Phil Davis (hamstring) is ready to go again. Xavier O’Halloran has been on the edge of the team for the last little while, and might get his next opportunity.