Where and When: Saturday, 1.45pm AEST, Manuka Oval
Last time they met:
The finals-bound Dockers secured a solid win the last time these teams met in round four, beating the GIANTS 13.10 (88) to 8.6 (54) over at Optus Stadium. The GIANTS hung around for a while – let off the hook for much of the game by the Dockers’ inaccuracy - but conceded six straight final-quarter goals which saw Freo run away with it. Will Brodie and David Mundy controlled the midfield for Fremantle, with the GIANTS’ struggling to contain their big crew of quick, hard running small forwards: Michael Frederick, Lachie Shulz, Sam Switkowski as well as youngster Nathan O’Driscoll, who kicked two goals from the wing. Tom Green’s two third quarter goals helped spark the GIANTS – he fought the fight in the middle - and the backline as usual did their best to hold the Dockers out, but scoring was tough all day and after just four rounds, the team found itself under pressure in Western Australia.
Broadcast
Saturday’s match will be shown live on Channel 7 in NSW and the ACT as well as Fox Footy and Kayo nationally from 1:30pm.
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:
It’s the last game of a long, tumultuous season and a chance to finish off well in front of a home crowd in Canberra that hasn’t seen a GIANTS win since 2019.
Where’s the opposition at?
The Dockers are preparing for their first finals series since 2015 when they finished in top spot on the ladder under former coach Ross Lyon. Sitting on 58 points with 14 wins and a draw, Fremantle will go into the final round of the season eight points ahead of the seventh-placed Richmond, meaning they can’t finish lower than sixth. Despite being only two points behind Sydney in second, Fremantle can only rise as high as third in their best-case scenario.
Player watch:
Leek Aleer has flourished in the GIANTS’ backline alongside Sam Taylor, Harry Himmelberg and Isaac Cumming since making his AFL debut in round 21. The 20-year-old had a career high 14 disposals, 7 intercepts and 5 marks against the Bulldogs last weekend and is gaining more confidence at AFL level every week.
In the mix:
Young midfielder Tanner Bruhn and veteran Lachlan Keeffe have both been ruled out of the GIANTS’ final game of the season. Tim Taranto and James Peatling could both return this week after exiting the concussion protocols, with the pair needing to pass their final medical requirements to be cleared to play on Saturday afternoon. Ruckman Braydon Preuss will be a test this week after missing last weekend with a minor shoulder injury and a decision on whether small forward Bobby Hill will play in the VFL on Saturday will be made later this week. There’s a number of players ready to be called upon if required, with Conor Stone, Xavier O'Halloran, Cooper Hamilton, Cam Fleeton, Wade Derksen, Zach Sproule and Will Shaw all available for a late-season call-up to AFL level.
