Round one is all about firsts; the first game of a new season and for some players the first game of their career, or first game in new colours.
For the GIANTS, the plan is to defeat the Crows in Adelaide for the first time.
The GIANTS’ ventures to the city of churches haven’t made for the happiest of reading with just one win coming from six games against the Crows and Port Adelaide.
Be it the artic winds of Football Park or the massive and parochial crowds of the Adelaide Oval, trips to Adelaide have always posed a difficult obstacle for the GIANTS to conquer.
So lets take a trip down memory lane and look at some recent history to take into account ahead of Sunday.
Last time we played the Crows.
Round 10, 2016 saw 46,737 screaming fans pack into the Adelaide Oval to watch the Eddie Betts show.
It was the largest crowd the GIANTS have ever played in front of during the premiership season, and despite coming into the match on the back of a six-game winning streak the GIANTS fell 22-points short against the Crows.
The GIANTS got within two points of the Crows at half time before the margin blew out to 46-points at the final break.
Despite a late charge the GIANTS couldn’t pull off a miracle.
Eddie Betts on the other hand could. The mercurial forward kicked five goals including the goal of the year while his captain Taylor Walker also got the better of the GIANTS backline bagging five goals.
Last time we beat the Crows.
You don’t have to go too far back to find the GIANTS last and only win over the Crows.
Cam McCarthy (four goals) and Toby Greene (three goals) ran riot up forward in the corresponding game in 2015, as the GIANTS won the round eight encounter by 24-ponts at Spotless Stadium.
It’s worth noting that both Walker and Betts each had a day out against the GIANTS defense, kicking four and three goals respectively.
Last time we played at the Adelaide Oval.
The GIANTS first win at the Adelaide Oval was one to savor in round 18, 2016.
Coming into the game Port Adelaide needed to win to keep their finals hopes alive while the GIANTS would secure their maiden finals appearance with a win.
Port Adelaide were in the box seat at half time with their home crowd in full voice.
Robbie Gray and Brad Ebert were running circles around the GIANTS defense and had built a sturdy 20-points lead.
The GIANTS burst out of the blocks after half time to grab the lead and eventually crush Port’s finals dreams winning by 19-points.
Shane Mumford, Tom Scully, Dylan Shiel and Stephen Coniglio were the most influential in one of the GIANTS’ finest comeback wins in their short history.
Last time we played in round one.
The opening round of 2016 didn’t go to plan for the GIANTS as the GIANTS lost narrowly to the Demons.
The two-point loss to Melbourne at the MCG soon became a blip on the radar as the club pushed on to finish fourth on the ladder.
Forward Rory Lobb and marquee recruit Steve Johnson kicked two goals each as they showed a glimpse of what was to come, while Phil Davis earned a Brownlow Medal vote for his efforts at full back.
