As the GIANTS prepare to take on West Coast in a must-win Semi-Final at Spotless Stadium, we take a look at all the key stats from the clubs’ last two meetings in rounds 10 and 22.
The stats that matter show the GIANTS have won the stats battle in their past two meetings, despite both games being decided by a margin of less than four goals.
In games against the Eagles in 2017 the GIANTS have averaged 12 more inside 50s, 18 more disposals, 3.5 more contested possessions, 7.5 clearances, nine uncontested possessions and seven scoring shots.
West Coast, however, laid an average of six more tackles per game than the GIANTS, won 7.5 more free kicks and averaged 14 intercept marks.
Intercept marks have been one of the Eagles’ strongest areas with defensive dynamo Jeremy McGovern ranked first in the competition for intercept marks and third in the competition for marks, averaging 7.7 per game.
The two-time All Australian is fourth for contested marks and is the only defender ranked in the top five. In the Eagles’ two games against the GIANTS this year McGovern has averaged 7.5 marks per game.
While those stats are impressive on their own, it’s what happens with the football after McGovern intercepts it. The Eagles have had 30 scoring shots as a result of his intercepts this year with13 of those shots goals.
West Coast have also been efficient when clearing the ball out from defence; the Eagles kicked two crucial goals last Saturday after kicking in from an opposition behind.
The GIANTS take on West Coast in a Semi-Final at Spotless Stadium on Saturday night at 7:25pm in the club’s final home game of the season with the winner to progress to a Preliminary Final.
