The GIANTS remain unchanged for their huge Qualifying Final clash against the Swans at ANZ Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
For the first time in their short history the GIANTS have named the same side for the third week running.
Coach Leon Cameron has backed in the same team that beat North Melbourne by 37 points in round 23 for the club’s first ever finals appearance.
“We’ve been waiting for a number of days for this, it’s going to be a great opportunity for the club,” Cameron said.
“The 22 that played North Melbourne - we thought did the job - so they get the opportunity on Saturday.
“There’s no doubt there’s still players that are pushing hard underneath and are unlucky. Normally what happens over this period of time is that someone falters with their form or injuries set in.
“Right now the guys that are in the 22 are performing to the level that is required.”
The GIANTS and Swans are locked at one-win-all in 2016 with the Swans taking the round three clash at the SCG by 25 points while the GIANTS reversed the result with a 42 point win in round 12.
Earlier in the season GIANTS had some chances but were wasteful in front of goal with the Swans' band of midfielders proving too good.
In the GIANTS’ 100th game in the competition, their second ever win over the Swans was built on a stunning burst either side of half-time, when the GIANTS kicked seven of eight goals.
Coach Cameron knows it’ll be a different kind of ball game for his young side when the ball is bounced on Saturday afternoon.
“What better way than to play one of the best finals performers in the last 10 years? It’s going to be one of those games where we just have to stay the moment," he said.
“Finals footy just isn’t going to work out for you; you’re not going to get on a roll, you’re not going to be able to kick four or five goals in a row, you’ve just got to keep hanging in there.
“We’re confident we’ve learnt to win a different way this year so that sort of uncompromising attack on the footy and playing some really good defence is our greatest challenge this weekend.
“We know the Swans will bring it because they have for a number of years. We look forward to seeing if we can measure up to them.”
It’s a dream match up for the GIANTS’ inaugural finals series as they take on their cross-town rivals in the biggest AFL game NSW has ever seen.
The crowd is expected to top 60 thousand which would be the biggest crowd the GIANTS have ever played in front of.
“The Swans have been here for 30 years growing the game and we’ve been here for five years. To create that rivalry in such a short period of time and be playing in a final, it’s probably unheard of,” Cameron said.
“To have 60 or 65 thousand people at the ground on the weekend will be amazing and it’s good that football in NSW is really buzzing.
“When the ball goes up it will be us versus them and them versus us and it will be on.
“We’re here to win the final and no doubt the Swans are saying the same thing so it’s going to be a great contest and a great spectacle for the supporters to watch.”
The GIANTS take on the Sydney Swans in Qualifying Final 1 at 3.20pm on Saturday afternoon at ANZ Stadium. Tickets start from $35 at Ticketek.com.au.
Sydney Swans v GWS GIANTS
Saturday September 10, 3.20pm
ANZ Stadium
GWS GIANTS
FB: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Nick Haynes
HB: Joel Patfull, Adam Tomlinson, Nathan Wilson
C: Zac Williams, Callan Ward, Josh Kelly
HF: Toby Greene, Rory Lobb, Jeremy Cameron
FF: Lachie Whitfield, Jonathon Patton, Devon Smith
RR: Shane Mumford, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio
Interchange: Jacob Hopper, Steve Johnson, Tom Scully, Ryan Griffen
In: -
Out: -
Emergencies: Rhys Palmer, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Adam Kennedy
