The GIANTS’ finals push continues as they search for their third straight win in an exciting clash with the Suns at ENGIE Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
AFL Round 19
GIANTS v Gold Coast Suns
Saturday, July 20 at 1:45pm
ENGIE Stadium | Wangal Country
What it means for the GIANTS
The ladder has never been tighter as the seventh-placed GIANTS (10-7) continue their finals push against the visiting Suns on Saturday.
The GIANTS will enter the clash with one of the more lopsided recent records between opponents in their favour, with the GIANTS having beaten the Suns in 12 of the last 13 meetings between the sides dating back to 2015.
Also in the GIANTS’ favour are two more facts – with the Suns having never beaten the GIANTS at Saturday’s venue of ENGIE Stadium in five attempts – as well as having remarkably not won a game on the road in more than a year.
Meanwhile the GIANTS will enter the clash having rediscovered some of their best form after an impressive win over Carlton two weeks ago was followed by a diligent 24-point win over Richmond on Sunday.
Previously unable to find consistency and lacking the slick ball movement they’ve become known for, the GIANTS have piled on 35 goals across the last two weeks to return to their Orange Tsunami best in the wins over the Blues and the Tigers
The GIANTS will now aim for three-straight victories and a win that could see them enter the top four in an incredibly tight race for finals which has just two games separating Carlton in second from Hawthorn in 13th with six rounds remaining.
The Opposition
The Suns (9-8) currently sit 11th following a bizarre set of results which has seen them win all nine home games – seven on the Gold Coast and two in Darwin – while losing all eight of their games on the road.
The Suns have now lost 15 straight away games dating back to May 12 last year when they beat the Eagles in Perth.
Gold Coast will enter Saturday’s clash in wining form however, having beaten Port Adelaide by 14 points last week at People First Stadium to keep both its finals dreams and perfect home record alive.
One of 13 sides still fighting for the eight finals spots, the Suns will be hoping to break their 15-game road losing streak on Saturday to keep their chances of a debut finals appearance alive.
Recent History
Winners of 12 of the last 13 meetings, the last time the GIANTS lost to the Suns was back in round 17, 2021 when Gold Coast won by a single point at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.
In the most recent match between the sides, the GIANTS claimed the inaugural Expansion Cup after a five-goal haul from skipper Toby Greene led his side to a 28-point win in Mt Barker as part of Gather Round back in round four.
Key Match-Up: Hulking Hogan v Combative Collins
Saturday’s match will likely see two of the competition’s best in their respective positions go toe- to-toe in GIANTS spearhead Jesse Hogan and Suns full-back Sam Collins.
After kicking a career-high 49 goals in a season last year, Hogan continues to elevate his game and with 45 majors to his name already heading into round 19 is almost sure to register a new career-best for goals in a season for a second consecutive year.
Sitting second in the Coleman race and fresh off another haul of four against the Tigers, Hogan will now face one of the competition’s best defenders this season in the Gold Coast’s Collins.
The tough and rugged defender - who won the Suns’ best and fairest in 2020 and has finished fourth, fifth and second in the last three seasons - has put himself firmly in the conversation amongst the league’s best key defenders with a brilliant 2024 campaign to date.
Two of the best key position players in the competition, the mouth-watering battle between Hogan and Collins will be crucial to who walks away with the four points on Saturday.
GIANTS Player to Watch: Callan Ward
He may be 17 years and 307 games into his AFL career but Callan Ward has continued to defy father time with several starring performances for the GIANTS this year.
In Sunday’s win over the Tigers, Ward continued his strong form, particularly in front of goal, with the 34-year-old kicking two goals to make it his fourth straight game kicking multiple majors despite playing on a wing.
Ward’s tally of eight goals in the past month is the most goals the veteran has ever kicked in a four-game stretch - surpassing the midfielder’s previous best of six goals in four games back in 2009.
The strong performance against Richmond on Sunday came following a red-hot month for Ward who from rounds 14-17 averaged 24 touches per game to go with his goalkicking feats.
The GIANTS will be hoping the former skipper can continue his purple patch on Saturday to help the GIANTS take down the Suns at ENGIE Stadium.
In the Mix
With the club’s VFL side fresh off a bye, the GIANTS have a host of reinforcements waiting in the wings if needed on Saturday, with Xavier O’Halloran, Jacob Wehr and Leek Aleer the leading candidates.
Team Selection
The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Suns at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au.
Rehab Report
Get a full injury update ahead of Saturday’s match here.
Where to Watch
Saturday’s match will be shown live and free on Channel 7 from 1:30pm in NSW and the ACT, as well as nationally on Fox Footy and Kayo.
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