The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS will face one of their toughest opponents yet on Saturday when they head north to take on the team at the top of the NEAFL Northern Conference leader board, the Northern Territory Thunder.
The GIANTS are in flying form and have moved up to second on the Eastern Conference ladder after their record 130 point win over Belconnen last week.
The Territory will be looking for redemption after they suffered their first defeat of the 2011 season to Aspley on Saturday.
GIANTS development coach Brett Hand will head back to Darwin this weekend for the first time since he joined the club. Hand was the head coach at the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and formerly head coach of Northern Territory Thunder. GIANTS reporter Beck Mills caught up with Hand ahead of his return to the Territory to find out what inside information he has on the opposition and how the GIANTS are preparing for the match.
What is the general feeling around the club heading into Saturday’s clash?
We’re really looking forward to it. Saturday’s game will be a big challenge for us.
Northern Territory has only lost one game and they are sitting on top of the Northern ladder so they’re tough competition.
You’ve spent a lot of time around NT football and know a lot of the Territory players, does your knowledge give the GIANTS an advantage coming into the game?
I’m not sure if it gives me an advantage but I’ve got a pretty good idea of how more than half of the team play. I coached eight of them with St Mary’s so I have some inside knowledge of what we’re up against.
What are the GIANTS up against?
NT relies heavily on their midfield, which is tough, strong and hard. They have a lot of quick guys in their backline and some strong forwards. They are a well-structured and well-run team.
NT lost their first game of the season last week, will that fire them up or slow them down?
They’ll be disappointed with their loss last week. From what I’ve read, they had some late withdrawals and they didn’t adapt well to that. I don’t think that any team is impacted too much from one week to the next.
The GIANTS are coming off their biggest ever win, will the boys be fired up on Saturday coming off that win?
We were impressive on Saturday but our opposition was a bit underdone. What we were happy about was that each group met their KPIs that we set for the game.
We go into the game confident that players know how we want to play, and then it’s a matter of fulfilling that during the match. Those things are a lot more important to us than the score line.
How are you feeling personally about heading back to Darwin with the GIANTS this weekend?
I loved my time in Darwin with the NT Thunder program, without them I probably wouldn’t be here with the GIANTS.
I’ve got a lot to thank them for and am excited to see them again, and to catch up with some people there.
NT Thunder v GWS GIANTS
Saturday July 2
7.00pm
TIO Stadium, Darwin
Click here to chat LIVE during the match
