Match Details:
GIANTS v Magpies
Saturday, March 9 at 7:30pm
GIANTS Stadium | Wangal Country
What it Means for the GIANTS
It doesn’t get much bigger for a season-opener than hosting the reigning premiers in the AFL’s first-ever Opening Round. Up against the Magpies under the spotlight of the footy world, the GIANTS are hoping a potential record crowd at GIANTS Stadium can help them clip the Magpies’ wings and get their 2024 campaign off to the hottest of starts.
After a big summer on the track, the GIANTS are hoping to build on the foundations laid last year under first-year coach Adam Kingsley who was crowned the 2023 AFL Coach of the Year after taking the GIANTS from a 16th place finish in 2022 to within a point of a grand final berth in his first season at the helm.
The GIANTS will enter Saturday’s huge showdown with Collingwood off the back of an impressive pre-season performance last week against the Gold Coast Suns, with the orange tsunami at its surging best to claim a comfortable 44-point win at Manuka Oval.
With high expectations following last year’s record-breaking run to a preliminary final, a first up win over the reigning premiers would be the perfect catapult for what the club hopes is a big 2024.
The Opposition
The Magpies will enter 2024 in different fashion to years gone by, going from the hunters to the hunted on the back of winning the 2023 AFL Premiership.
Joining Essendon and Carlton with their 16th AFL/VFL premiership following a four-point grand final win over the Brisbane Lions last September, the Magpies will enter 2024 as the premiership favourites across the majority of the footy world.
After finishing 17th in 2021, new coach Craig McRae took the Magpies to a preliminary final in his first season and a premiership in his second - he’ll now have to achieve something not done at Collingwood in almost 90 years if he wants to continue his remarkable run - with the Magpies not having won back-to-back flags since 1935-36.
The Magpies will enter their quest for back-to-back flags with almost their entire 23 from last year’s premiership side intact - with small forward Jack Ginnivan the only omission after he was traded to Hawthorn in the summer. Ginnivan has been replaced in the side by former Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz who looks set to make his Magpies debut against the GIANTS on Saturday.
Recent History:
While the GIANTS’ clear-cut rivals are the Swans and the Western Bulldogs, there’s no doubting a healthy rivalry with the Magpies is quickly building.
With the sides clashing in several big games over the last few seasons - including a huge 2019 preliminary final win to the GIANTS - and of course, the heartbreaking one-point preliminary final loss to the Magpies last season - there’s often fireworks when the two sides meet.
Fittingly, after a long summer, the GIANTS will look to not only test themselves on Saturday against the benchmark of last season, but against the side that ended their 2023 campaign in the epic preliminary final stoush at the MCG.
In one of the games of the 2023 season, the GIANTS held a 17-point lead early in the third term before the Magpies fought their way back to hold on for a nail-biting 8.10 (58) to 8.9 (57) win.
Josh Kelly (34 disposals), Tom Green (31 disposals, six clearances, one goal), and Lachie Whitfield (26 disposals) led the way for the GIANTS in defeat, while Jordan De Goey (34 disposals, 13 clearances) and Nick Daicos (28 disposals, six clearances) were the Magpies’ best.
In what’s trending to be a sell-out crowd as part of the first-ever Opening Round, Saturday’s clash is likely to only add further fuel to what’s becoming an exciting rivalry between the two clubs.
Key Match-Up: Who Takes Toby?
There’s no doubting there’s been some enthralling battles between GIANTS captain Toby Greene and the ‘Pies across the journey. Often engaged in a box-office battle with Magpie defender Brayden Maynard, the one-one-one matchup is worth the price of admission alone.
With fellow Magpie defender Isaac Quaynor also a likely match-up, deciding on who takes on the GIANTS’ inspirational skipper - who is coming off a career-best 66-goal season, and who has kicked 11 majors in his last four outings against the Magpies - will no doubt play a crucial role in the outcome of Saturday’s clash.
GIANTS Player to Watch
Last season Tom Green established himself as one of the competition’s best players, but at just 23 years old it appears there’s plenty more room for improvement for the midfield bull.
Green enters his fifth season following a career-best year where he was named in the 40-man All-Australian squad after leading the league in disposals at an average of a whopping 32 per game to go along with 6.1 clearances, five tackles and 4.5 inside-50s per match.
After finishing runner-up in last year’s Kevin Sheedy Medal, Green looks primed to elevate his game to another level this season as he continues his rapid rise to sit amongst the game’s elite.
Green warmed up nicely for Saturday’s season-opener with a strong outing in last week’s pre-season clash with the Suns, finishing with a team-high 31 touches, nine clearances and six inside-50s.
Green will need to be at his best once again on Saturday if the GIANTS are to take down the reigning premiers and their star-studded midfield.
In the Mix
While the GIANTS have ruled out young gun Finn Callaghan and reliable defender Harry Perryman from the clash with the Pies, both star forward Jesse Hogan and exciting half-back Lachie Ash have been deemed fit and available after both missing the pre-season match against the Suns last week.
Recent draftee Harvey Thomas could also come into consideration to make his debut after impressing throughout the summer and across the club’s two pre-season matches against the Swans and the Suns.
Team Selection
The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Magpies at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au.
Rehab Report
Get a full injury update ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Magpies here.
Where to Watch
Saturday’s match will be shown live on Channel Seven, Fox Footy and Kayo nationally from 7pm.
Social Media
Be part of the #BigBigSound in 2024 - For all the latest news, follow @GWSGIANTS on social media: Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.
