Before you head to Spotless Stadium for this week’s huge blockbuster clash, check out some of the key stats which could influence the game between the GIANTS and the Hawks.
Jeremy Cameron's seven goals were the difference when the GIANTS upset Hawthorn in 2015, Callan Ward had 31 disposals for the GIANTS and Sam Mitchell 34 touches for the visitors.
The pendulum has slowly swung towards the GIANTS in the only four matches between these two sides.
Hawthorn won the first game in 2012 by a massive 162 points, the second by 83 and the third by seven points, before the GIANTS won last year.
The Hawks continue to be the number one tackling side in 2016 averaging 84.4 per game, compared to the GIANTS who are the worst, ranked 18th at 59.4 per game.
The GIANTS however, have improved their clearances significantly in 2016. Last season they were ranked 14th with a -3.2 differential, but in the first five rounds of the season they’ve improved to second with a +7.8 differential.
It’s the same with contested possessions where they were -6 last year but now third best in the competition with a +10.8 differential.
The GIANTS are also defending better, with seven more inside-50s this year - improving from 13th to sixth.
The Hawks have taken 19 contested marks in their forward 50, the third most in the AFL, so Phil Davis, Joel Patfull and the rest of the backline will have their jobs cut out for them on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawks are also third for forward 50 tackles so the GIANTS will be relying on the likes of Zac Williams and Nathan Wilson to run the ball from defence.
Despite winning four games this year, the Hawks’ scoring continues to be down on previous seasons; in 2016 they’re averaging 95 points per game compared to 109 in 2015 and 111 in 2014. The GIANTS are averaging 102.4 points per game, up from 85.4 last year.
The GIANTS plays their first game at Spotless Stadium for the season this week; where they won six of eight games in 2015 after winning only five games in total at the venue from 2012-14.
Last year’s crowd of 13,556 for the match between the GIANTS and Hawks was the club’s highest crowd outside the Sydney Derbies.
In terms of personnel, the Hawks have the competition’s leading possession winner in Sam Mitchell, who is averaging a monster 35 touches a game. Tom Scully is highest for the GIANTS, averaging 28.
The Hawks are also one of the few teams in the competition with two genuine ruckmen with Jonathon Ceglar and Ben McEvoy both strong in the ruck and around the ground.
On the GIANTS’ side, in a quirky stat, ruckman Shane Mumford has had 11 possessions in every one of his five games this year.
The reigning premiers also have a huge amount of left footers, with eight in total; many of them key playmakers. They are Grant Birchall, Josh Gibson, Luke Hodge, Taylor Duryea, Cyril Rioli, Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Isaac Smith.
GIANTS coach Leon Cameron gets set to head up his 50th game in charge on Saturday, against the side where he was an Assistant Coach under Alistair Clarkson from 2010-2012.
Cameron has never lost to his former boss, with Cameron taking the points in the 2015 clash and former Hawks Assistant Brendan Bolton in charge in the 2014 meeting when Clarkson was ill.
The GIANTS take on the three-time reigning premiers Hawthorn in their first game at Spotless Stadium for the year on Saturday April 30 at 4.35pm. Click here to get your tickets now.
