1. Roll out the red carpet: Two Brownlow medalists will play at Spotless Stadium for the first time next season. 2009 and 2013 winner Gary Ablett and his Gold Coast Suns will debut at Spotless in round 8 while Nat Fyfe and his Fremantle Dockers will run onto the Western Sydney venue for the first time in round 22.
2. Milestone for GIANTS: The youngest club in the AFL will play their 100th game in the competition in round 12 when the GIANTS face their cross town rivals the Swans at Spotless Stadium on Sunday, June 12. We’ll supply the fireworks as usual.
3. To do list: The GIANTS have eight chances to record victories against opposition clubs for the first time in 2015. In the first four years of the GIANTS, the young club is yet to beat West Coast, Richmond, North Melbourne, Fremantle, Geelong and Collingwood. These games come in round 2, 7, 10, 16, 19, 21, 22 and 23.
4. New territory for Tiges: Richmond are one of the oldest clubs in the AFL - they were formed way back in 1885. But the boys from Tigerland have never played an AFL match in Canberra - that changes in round 19 at StarTrack Oval. Might want to buy your tickets early for this one.
5. Ward 100: Co-captain Callan Ward is on track to become the first play to 100 AFL games for the GIANTS. If he plays every game, like he did in 2015, he’ll bring up the milestone in round 18 against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
6. Durable Dev: Small forward Devon Smith could bring up a record of his own in 2015 by becoming the first player to debut at the GIANTS and reach 100 games. Smith played in the GIANTS first ever game in 2012 and if he stays on the park this year, will bring up the century in round 22 at Spotless Stadium against Fremantle.
7. Unlucky Numbers: There are seven rounds the GIANTS have never won in - fingers crossed that number decreases in 2016 when we look for wins in rounds 5 (St Kilda at Etihad), 9 (Bulldogs at Spotless), 11 (Geelong at Simmonds), 12 (Swans at Spotless), 17 (Brisbane at Gabba), 18 (Port at Adelaide) and round 20 (Gold Coast at Metricon).
8. Smith goes solo: With Adam Treloar moving to Collingwood, Devon Smith is the only listed GIANTS player to play in every one of the club’s wins. How long will his streak last?
9. Flying High: It’s lucky the GIANTS have Virgin Australia as a co-major sponsor with the GIANTS flying more often than any other team in the AFL. This year the GIANTS fly 13 times during the regular season, plus another two in the pre-season. Playing for the GIANTS is a great way to pump up your Velocity points.
10. History repeating: No GIANTS fan would ever forget the night the GIANTS defeated reigning premier Hawthorn in round 6 last season. It’s eerily similar next season when the two teams meet with the Hawks once again coming off the premiership: Same venue, same round, same time slot. Lets hope for the same result.
