Where and When: Sunday July 24, 1.10pm, Marvel Stadium
Last time they met:
The GIANTS played Carlton for the last time back in round nine, losing Leon Cameron’s last game as coach by 30-points at GIANTS Stadium. Carlton dominated the inside 50s early and it took the GIANTS more than half of the first quarter to find their first goal, before a second quarter fightback saw the scoreboard tied at half-time. The third term was tight too, but the Blues took over late in the game to set up their first-ever win at the ground. Charlie Curnow kicked two late goals and Sam Walsh and Patrick Cripps both stepped up in the midfield, with small forwards Corey Durdin and Zac Fisher dangerous around goal. Sam Taylor dominated Curnow for most of the day and Toby Greene, Jake Riccardi and Harry Himmelberg hit the scoreboard, with Isaac Cumming, Harry Perryman and Josh Kelly among the GIANTS’ best.
Broadcast
Sunday’s AFL match between Carlton and GIANTS will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on Channel 7 in NSW and the ACT from 1pm.
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:
With a couple of players out injured, there could be opportunities for younger players to show what they’ve got, though a number of them – Finn Callaghan, Conor Stone and Ryan Angwin for example – are still on the injury list. The GIANTS were right in their last game against Carton and that was only a handful of weeks ago, so here is a chance to get some things right, stay in the game for longer and keep working towards building momentum for 2023.
Where’s the opposition at?
The Blues are eight points clear in seventh spot on the ladder with five matches to go. They’re on their way to the finals under new coach Michael Voss, but coming into this game off a loss to Geelong. Last week’s debutant Will Hayes is out suspended, but the Blues brought ruckman Mark Pittonet and defender Mitch McGovern back through the VFL last weekend and they might be right to come in. Jack Martin is another chance to return from injury this week.
Player watch:
It’s been a rough few weeks but one positive has been the unbelievable form down back of Sam Taylor, who cares desperately about the team, does not like losing and hates being beaten in a single contest. Against the Lions last week he saved the day over and over, be it by spoiling, taking an intercept mark or winning a ground ball. He’s in some sort of form.
“He’s been incredible, Sammy. I don’t like seeing him defend as much as he has to, poor kid,” said Mark McVeigh after the last week’s game. “He’s a star. His will to not lose and to play for the GIANTS is as good as anyone. He hurts when we lose. Individual accolades are important but Sam wouldn’t want me saying that, that’s not who he is. We all sit in amazement at times at how well he can defend.”
In the mix:
Josh Kelly will miss the match with concussion, with Connor Idun likely to miss the rest of the season with a broken foot. Adam Kennedy (concussion) is expected to be ready to come back in, while Lachie Whitfield (hip) will be tested later in the week. Jake Stein, Cam Fleeton, Leek Aleer and Callum Brown will be considered to take Idun’s spot in the backline, with others including Cooper Hamilton, Braydon Preuss, Kieren Briggs, Wade Derksen, Jarrod Brander putting their hand up in the VFL in recent weeks. Harry Perryman (ribs) is well on the mend, and could be back next week.
