The GIANTS will be looking to clip the wings of the Hollywood Hawks as the two undefeated sides face off at Hawthorn’s happy hunting ground of UTAS Stadium.
Match Details
Hawks v GIANTS
Saturday, March 29 at 7:35pm
University of Tasmania Stadium | Palawa
What It Means For The GIANTS
Fresh off a bye, the undefeated GIANTS will look to maintain their hot start to the season on Saturday in what looms as the match of the round between two of just five unbeaten sides this year.
After beating the Magpies and the Demons across the first two rounds, the GIANTS will head south to Tasmania well-rested after a week off and with a host of returning GIANTS pushing for selection.
Ruck Kieren Briggs is expected to return on Saturday after exiting concussion protocols that forced him to miss the win over Melbourne, while star forwards Jesse Hogan (thumb) and Jake Stringer (hamstring) are both looking to prove their fitness at training this week as they push for their first games of the season.
Jake Riccardi, Harvey Thomas, Toby McMullin and Joe Fonti will also be available for AFL selection for the first time this year after serving their two-match bans.
With two wins from their opening two games and with the possibility of some returning firepower, the GIANTS will look to make a statement with victory over the high-flying Hawks at their home away from home in Launceston.
The Opposition
Hawthorn has started its 2025 season in red-hot form to also sit undefeated following wins over the Swans, the Bombers, and the Blues.
Their 3-0 start is the first time the Hawks have achieved that feat since their 2014 premiership season.
In their most recent victory, the Hawks overcame a spirited Carlton side to register a 20-point win at the MCG in round two.
After trailing the Blues by five points at the main break, the Hawks held Carlton to just two goals across the final two terms to run out 12.8 (80) to 8.12 (60) winners.
Possessing a well-balanced side, a host of unique personalities, and some of the best foot skills in the competition, the Hawks will be looking to continue their eye-catching brand of footy to help take down the GIANTS on Saturday.
Recent History
Not much has separated the GIANTS and the Hawks in recent times, with the average winning margin less than a goal in their last four encounters.
The sides split victory in their two meetings last year, with the Hawks winning the round 13 clash in Launceston by a goal before the GIANTS repaid the favour with a thrilling two-point win over the Hawks in Canberra in round 21.
The clubs have only met twice before at Saturday’s venue of UTAS Stadium, with the Hawks’ six-point win last year preceded by a thrilling draw between the GIANTS and the Hawks back in round 16, 2017.
Key Match-Up: Mighty Midfields
Saturday’s clash will see two of the league’s hottest midfields do battle in a contest sure to have a major say in who leaves Tassie with the four points.
Headlined by vice-captains Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio, midfield bull Tom Green, and emerging star Finn Callaghan, the GIANTS midfield has fired on all cylinders across its first two games and will need to continue that on Saturday if they hope to remain unbeaten.
With Jai Newcombe, Will Day and silky winger Massimo D’Ambrosio all in strong form for the Hawks, the battle of the mighty midfields will be key to Saturday’s result.
GIANTS Player To Watch: Toby Greene
GIANTS skipper Toby Greene will enter Saturday’s clash following a brilliant start to his 2025 campaign, with the dynamic forward following up a strong Opening Round performance against Collingwood with a best-on-ground display in the win over the Demons in round one.
Leading the way with a dominant final term after being moved into the midfield, Greene finished the game with 23 touches, 3.3, five clearances, 12 score involvements and four tackles to earn a perfect 10 Coaches’ votes for the match-winning performance.
Well-rested off the bye, the 2023 All-Australian skipper will be looking to continue his hot start to 2025 on Saturday against the Hawks.
In The Mix
Team selection will be no easy task for Adam Kingsley and his coaching staff this week as several players push their case to take on the Hawks.
While Briggs (concussion) is set to return, Hogan (thumb) and Stringer (hamstring) will be assessed later in the week.
Riccardi, Thomas, McMullin and Fonti are also available for selection, while the likes of Leek Aleer, Harry Rowston and Cody Angove are pushing their cases through strong form in VFL practice matches.
Team Selection
The GIANTS will name their side to take on the Hawks 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
As part of Super Saturdays on Fox, our big clash with the Hawks will be shown live and exclusively nationally on Fox Sports 3 and Kayo from 7:30pm AEDT.
For our free-to-air viewers in NSW and the ACT the game can also be viewed via delayed coverage from 8:30pm on 7mate and 7plus.
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