The GIANTS will look to continue their hot start to the season in a fiery clash with the Demons at the home of footy.

Match Details   

Demons v GIANTS
Sunday, March 16 at 3:20pm 
MCG | Wurundjeri Country 

What It Means For The GIANTS    

The GIANTS will be looking to back up their statement Opening Round win over the Magpies when they travel to the MCG for the only time this home and away season for a clash with the Dees.

Opening their campaign without a host of stars - including Jesse Hogan (thumb), Jake Stringer (hamstring), and Tom Green (calf) - the GIANTS put together a brilliant team performance against Collingwood to run out 15.14 (104) to 6.16 (52) winners.

Enduring a wretched run with injury over the last two seasons, Sam Taylor reminded the football world of his immense talent with a dominant game in defence against the Pies as he collected nine intercept marks to repeatedly cut off Collingwood entries and kick-start the GIANTS’ attack.

Meanwhile Finn Callaghan put forward arguably the best performance of his young career, with the 21-year-old registering 33 disposals, 12 score involvements, seven clearances and two goals in an eye-catching performance through the middle.

Other strong contributors were vice-captain Josh Kelly (36 disposals), club legend Callan Ward (23, one goal), and dashing defenders Lachie Ash (25 disposals) and Lachie Whitfield (26 disposals).

The only downside of Sunday’s win was an injury to ruckman Kieren Briggs who was stretchered from the ground following a head knock in a marking contest in the opening term.

In positive news Briggs has been cleared of any serious injury but has entered concussion protocols and will miss Sunday’s clash with the Demons.

 The Opposition 

The Demons will be looking to kick-start their 2025 campaign with a win over the GIANTS in a clash with extra meaning for the club, with the Dees to honour club legend Jim Stynes with the inaugural Jim’s Game initiative.

Celebrating Irish club legend Jim Stynes, the Demons will wear a special jumper against the GIANTS as they honour Styne’s life and legacy and raise funds for the Jim Stynes Foundation.

The Demons will be led by their star-studded midfield against the GIANTS, with Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, and Jack Viney all in line to play in the season opener following strong summers.

After finishing 14^th last season, the Dees will be hoping to turn things around in 2025 and start by honouring Jim Stynes with a statement round one win over the impressive GIANTS on Sunday. 

Recent History   

History has shown there’s never too much separating the GIANTS and the Dees, with the clubs splitting their last 10 games, 5-5.

The GIANTS however have come out on top in each of the last two clashes – and both in thrilling fashion by just two points.

In the most recent clash – in round 20 last year – the Demons held a 27-point lead at the first break until the GIANTS kicked 12 of the next 15 goals to take control before holding on late to record a gutsy 13.7 (85) to 12.11 (83) victory at the MCG.

Key Match-Up: King Keeffe v Mighty Max 

With ruck Kieren Briggs ruled out with concussion, Sunday’s match-up will likely see trusty utility Lachlan Keeffe take the number one ruck spot against the Demons after a valiant effort for the final three terms of Sunday’s win over the Pies following Briggs’ injury.

Known affectionately by many of his teammates as ‘King Keeffe’, the 34-year-old utility will have his work cut out for him against one of the game’s greatest ever ruckman in Demons skipper Max Gawn.

As he’s continued to do so across his entire 117-game career, the GIANTS will be hoping Keeffe can use his athleticism, his footy smarts, and his team-first mentality to full effect on Sunday to help nullify Gawn’s influence.

GIANTS Player To Watch: Darcy Jones

Speed machine Darcy Jones wasted no time last week in showing he’s ready to take the competition by storm in 2025 after last year’s brilliant debut season.

Emerging as one of the competition’s most exciting small forwards in 2024, Jones burst onto the scene with a brilliant debut season as he played 14 games to take out the club’s Rising Star Award.

Despite being in doubt for last Sunday’s game after rolling his ankle at training on Friday, Jones showed no signs of being restricted as he starred for the GIANTS with 15 touches and two goals to play a huge role in the big win.

Jones is fast becoming an integral piece of the GIANTS’ orange tsunami game style and will be looking to continue his red-hot start to 2025 on Sunday against the Dees.

In The Mix  

While Hogan (thumb) and Stringer (hamstring) will miss again as they look to return after the club’s round two bye, star midfielder Tom Green is listed as a test to return from a pre-season calf injury on Sunday against the Demons.

Meanwhile a host of youngsters continue to press their claims through training and strong form in VFL practice matches, with Ollie Hannaford, Cody Angove, Leek Aleer, Josaia Delana and Harry Oliver among a host of players pushing their case.

Get a recap of the club’s most recent VFL clash here.

Team Selection 

The GIANTS will name their extended squad to take on the Dees at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au and the final team at 5pm on Friday.

Rehab Report   

Get a full injury update ahead of Sunday’s match here.

Where To Watch  

The clash with Melbourne will be shown live and free on 7 Mate in NSW and ACT and online nationally on 7 Plus, with pre-game coverage starting from 2:30pm, as well as live nationally on Fox Footy, Kayo and Binge from 3:10pm.

Be part of the #BigBigSound in 2025 - For all the latest news, follow @GWSGIANTS on social media: Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.