Where and when: Marvel Stadium, Friday June 19, 7.50pm AEST
Last time they met: It was finals time, and after being bulldozed by the Bulldogs just two weeks earlier the GIANTS turned a 61-point defeat into a rousing 58-point victory, winning 16.7 (113) to 8.7 (55) in their elimination final. The GIANTS made their break in the third term, kicking six goals to two after leading by just 10 points at half-time. Matt de Boer did a great job limiting Marcus Bontempelli's influence and Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper toughed it out alongside him in the middle, while Toby Greene, Jeremy Finlayson and Josh Kelly kicked three goals each. The win was bittersweet: it was the last AFL game ever for Tiger turned GIANT Brett Deledio, who injured his calf early and played out the match but was ruled out for the rest of September.
TV and online: Check the AFL broadcast guide
What it means for the GIANTS: A five-day break and trip to Melbourne means the GIANTS will have to move on from last week’s 20-point loss to North Melbourne quickly. The team struggled to find any real rhythm against the Roos, with coach Leon Cameron disappointed they were beaten by a hungrier side more willing to roll its sleeves up. Harry Himmelberg kicked three goals, Jye Caldwell had an impact in his third senior game, Callan Ward was solid upon his return from a knee reconstruction and Brent Daniels worked hard, but the coaches will be looking for an improved work rate across the board.
Where’s the opposition at? The Bulldogs sit last on the ladder, as one of four teams to have lost both their first and second round games. They were beaten by St Kilda in round two, trailing by four goals at half-time and losing by 39 points in the end. Josh Dunkley, Pat Lipinski and Bailey Smith were among the better performed Dogs, who have struggled to post big scores in both their games this season.
The stat: The game against the Dogs will be the 21st time in nine seasons that the GIANTS have played at Marvel Stadium. A victory would make it nine wins at the Melbourne ground, to go with 11 losses and one draw, against St Kilda in round 5, 2018.
In the mix: Sam Reid is in for a 4-6 week stint on the sidelines with a calf injury, while draftee Tom Hutchesson is rehabbing a torn hamstring. Tim Taranto and Matt Flynn are inching their way back from shoulder and knee injuries, while Adam Kennedy is available for selection after overcoming his hamstring injury. Lachie Ash, Bobby Hill, Zac Langdon, Xavier O’Halloran and Tom Green performed well against the Swans in a scratch match last weekend and are ready and waiting if required.
In the spotlight: It was a tough day for the GIANTS’ forwards against the Roos, but Harry Himmelberg did his best to get the team going late in the game. Himmelberg set up a Jeremy Cameron goal with a nice, low pass midway through the last quarter, kicked a long goal from the boundary line not long later and then scrounged another from the goal line to give the GIANTS a chance.
