After 117 games, the GIANTS will play their first-ever Friday night fixture when they take on the Western Bulldogs at UNSW Canberra Oval.

Not only is it a first for the club but a first for many of the GIANTS’ playing group. 

Of the 43 listed players, only 12 GIANTS have played an AFL Premiership fixture on a Friday night.

Of the 22 who took to the field in last Saturday’s Sydney Derby win, only have played under the Friday night lights.

Steve Johnson is the most experienced of the lot having played 56 of his 279 games on Fridays.

Geelong’s period of success from 2005 onwards saw Johnson and the Cats feature prominently on football’s biggest weekly stage.

Teammate Heath Shaw has also had his fair share of Friday night footy, having appeared 44 times for the Magpies on a Friday night.

Shaw made his AFL debut on a Friday night at Etihad Stadium against St. Kilda in round 17, 2005. 

The 19-year-old was impressive, collecting 22 disposals in front of 45,576 people as the Magpies were beaten by 73-points. 

Shaw has kicked two goals (his biggest haul) on six occasions in his career, three of those bags coming on Friday nights.

Shane Mumford also made his AFL debut on a Friday night, playing alongside Steve Johnson at Geelong in 2008.

Despite a quiet personal performance, Mumford’s round six debut was far more memorable than Shaw’s, with the Cats beating Fremantle at a packed Domain Stadium by a point after trailing by 25-points at three quarter time.

In his 100 career games before joining the GIANTS in 2014, Mumford has played in 12 Friday night games.

Friday night will also be a first for UNSW Canberra Oval with the ground set to host its first Friday night fixture after 42 games.