All eyes turn to ENGIE Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the GIANTS host the Pies in a mouthwatering Opening Round clash.
Match Details
GIANTS v Magpies
Sunday, March 9 at 3:20pm
ENGIE Stadium | Wangal Country
What It Means For The GIANTS
After a long pre-season the real stuff is finally here as the GIANTS look to kick-start their 2025 campaign in winning fashion as they host Collingwood in a replay of last year’s inaugural Opening Round clash.
After a record-breaking 2024 season ended with finals heartbreak, the GIANTS will be aiming to make amends in 2025 as they chase their elusive first premiership with an exciting side boasting a blend of youth and experience.
Led once again by skipper Toby Greene, and with star vice-captains Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio fit and firing, the GIANTS will be hoping for a repeat of last year’s Opening Round result which saw them upset the Pies with a 32-point win at ENGIE Stadium.
The GIANTS will be aiming to overcome the absence of three of their stars against the Pies on Sunday, with reigning Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan (thumb), boom recruit Jake Stringer (hamstring), and star midfielder Tom Green (calf) missing the season opener through injury.
While they’ll be without some of their stars to start the season, the orange tsunami could be energized by a number of young untried and exciting teenagers in 2025 after impressive performances over the summer.
While not at full strength for their Opening Round fixture, the GIANTS will be hoping a huge summer on the track can see them start the 2025 season with a bang by taking down their black and white rival.
The Opposition
Collingwood will enter the 2025 season hungry and full of ambition after missing last year’s finals series on the back of a premiership in 2023.
The Pies paid the price for a slow start in 2024 and despite a strong second half to the season were left to rue their poor start to the year as they narrowly missed out on a finals spot to finish in ninth spot.
Already boasting the most experienced list in the competition, the Pies added a trio of off-season recruits in their bid to return to the top in 2025, with the club recruiting Dan Houston (Port Adelaide), Tim Membrey (St Kilda), and former GIANT Harry Perryman over the summer.
Collingwood will enter Sunday’s Opening Round following an impressive 83- point win over Richmond in their AAMI Community Series clash last week.
The Magpies will be missing star midfielder Jordan De Goey against the GIANTS, with the 28-year-old ruled out on Tuesday as he overcomes bone bruising.
Recent History
The GIANTS have had a mixed bag of results against the Pies in recent years with whom they’ve started to build a healthy but lively rivalry with.
The orange tsunami stormed to a resounding 32-point win the last time the sides met in the corresponding Opening Round fixture last year, but the Magpies have won the two prior meetings between the sides.
Up against the reigning premiers at the time, the GIANTS fired a warning shot to the rest of the competition to start their 2024 campaign with an impressive 18.6 (114) – 11.16 (82) Opening Round win over Collingwood at ENGIE Stadium.
Meanwhile the prior meeting between the side ended in heartbreak for the GIANTS as the Magpies registered a one-point preliminary final win to punch their ticket into the 2023 Grand Final while ending the GIANTS’ season.
With the GIANTS holding a narrow 6-4 edge in the last 10 games between the sides, Sunday’s clash looms as another exciting meeting between two of the league’s most highly fancied teams entering the 2025 season.
Key Match-Up: An Old Friend Pays a Visit
Sunday’s match-up will see former GIANTS defender Harry Perryman face his old side for the first time after crossing to the Pies in the summer.
Perryman signed with Collingwood on a six-year deal in the summer after eight seasons and 129 games in orange and charcoal.
Now playing as a midfielder for the Magpies, Perryman has not had to wait long to face his former side as they do battle in his very first game in his new colours.
GIANTS Player to Watch: Sam Taylor
Star All-Australian defender Sam Taylor says he’s determined to return to his very best in 2025 after a pair of tough injuries curtailed his 2024 season.
Establishing himself as one of, if not the best key defender in the competition in recent years, Taylor’s 2024 season was marred by a concussion injury and a ruptured testicle which forced him to spend numerous weeks on the sideline.
While he still rated elite in his position for both intercept marks and tackles in 2024, Taylor himself says he wasn’t happy with his performances in the latter half of the season and is determined on returning to being the best defender in the game in 2025.
Despite a concussion in an intra club match three weeks ago, Taylor is now back to full fitness and following a big summer is primed to return to his All Australian form this year.
The competitive 198cm defender will need to be at his best on Sunday as he faces a Collingwood forward line with three in-form tall forwards, with Brody Mihocek, Dan McStay, and Tim Membrey all strong aerial targets for the Pies across the pre-season.
In The Mix
With Hogan (thumb), Stringer (hamstring), and Green (calf) all unavailable on Sunday, it opens the door for selection for several GIANTS looking to solidly their spot or break into the side in 2025.
While the likes of recent draftees Cody Angove, James Leake and Phoenix Gothard are pressing their claims for an AFL debut, slightly more experienced GIANTS such as Harry Rowston, Conor Stone and Max Gruzewski will all be hoping for more AFL action in 2025.
Team Selection
The GIANTS will name their extended squad to take on the Pies at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.auand the final team at 5pm on Friday.
Rehab Report
Get a full injury update ahead of Sunday’s match here.
Where To Watch
The Opening Round match will be shown live and free on 7 Mate in NSW and ACT and online on 7 Plus from 3pm, as well as on Fox Footy and Kayo from 3pm.
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