When and Where: Saturday August 6, 2.10pm, GIANTS Stadium

Gates will open at 10:25am this weekend as the GIANTS host Essendon in a VFL curtain-raiser from 10:35am. 

Last time they met: 

The GIANTS produced a stunning second-half comeback to not only steal victory from the Bombers, but also steal their spot inside the top eight in round 19 last year.

Essendon produced an excellent first half, taking a 16-point lead into half-time. But the GIANTS’ engine room got going in the second half, kicking six second-half goals while restricting the Bombers to one to run out 16-point winners 9.12 (66) to 7.11 (53) at Metricon Stadium.

Broadcast:

Saturday’s match will be shown live on the Seven Network including 7mate in NSW and the ACT as well as Fox Footy and Kayo nationally from 2pm. 
 
For the latest television and radio broadcast guide, click here. 

 

What it means for the GIANTS: 

With only three games remaining for the GIANTS this season, Saturday’s encounter with Essendon provides Mark McVeigh’s side another 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?

Essendon continued their strong late-season form with a convincing 48-point win over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium last weekend. Jake Stringer finished with five majors as the Bombers steadily built on their strong opening quarter to claim a 17.12 (114) to 9.12 (66) win.

Player watch: 

Mark McVeigh was particularly pleased with Sam Taylor last weekend, who despite having three second half goals kicked on him by Lance Franklin, was clearly the GIANTS’ best player in Sydney Derby XXIV.

Taylor is averaging 9.5 intercept possessions, 8.3 spoils and 15.2 disposals this year, and is in line for his first All-Australian blazer.

In the mix: 

Young defender Jacob Wehr and utility Jarrod Brander have been sidelined after picking up injuries over the weekend. Meanwhile, both Matt Flynn (ankle) and Conor Stone (hamstring) are expected to return to the field this week if the pair pass fitness tests, with small forward Bobby Hill medically cleared to return to playing games after surgery for testicular cancer. Jake Stein, Lachlan Keeffe, Cam Fleeton, Will Shaw, Cooper Hamilton and Wade Derksen will be considered following strong form in the VFL. GIANTS captain Stephen Coniglio is also set to return after being a late out against the Swans last weekend.