Where and when: Metricon Stadium, Friday August 7, 7.50pm AEST
Last time they met: The GIANTS took a while to get going, and after doing so were overrun by Essendon in the last quarter. A 10-point three-quarter team became a 19- point break after Toby Greene kicked a goal early in the final term, but the Bombers then took over, levelling the scores after Adam Kennedy’s touch on a Shaun McKernan shot was missed by the goal review system before clinching their six-point win– 12.5 (77) to 10.11 (71) - via a Cale Hooker set goal. Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly played a big games in the midfield for the GIANTS and Zac Williams provided plenty of dash off half-back, while Jeremy Cameron and Jeremy Finlayson combined for five of the team’s 10 goals. Zach Merrett, Dyson Heppell and former GWS player Dylan Shiel were all prominent for the Bombers.
TV and online: https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-premiership
What it means for the GIANTS: The GIANTS have not yet managed to notch three wins in a row this year, falling to Port Adelaide in round six having beaten Collingwood and Hawthorn in rounds four and five. This is a chance to do jump that hurdle while also navigating the most disrupted part of the team’s season so far. After playing the Bombers on Friday night the GIANTS will head straight to Perth, to set up in a hub there ahead of the round 12 game against Sydney.
Where’s the opposition at? Essendon sits in ninth spot on the ladder after nine rounds, with five wins from the eight games they have played (their postponed game against Melbourne from a few weeks back will replace their upcoming bye). After squeaking home against Adelaide in Adelaide two weeks ago, they suffered a 63-point loss to top-of-the-ladder Brisbane last week to slip outside the top eight.
The number: 5. There are former GIANTS scattered all over the league these days, with five landing at the Bombers and at least four a big chance to line up on Friday night. Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith are the more high-profile members of that group and James Stewart has come back from injury this year, with Jacob Townsend making his way there this year via Richmond and Andrew Phillips also at his third club, following his few years at Carlton. A sixth might be Kobe Mutch, who wasn't part of the GWS list but came through the GIANTS Academy before being picked up by the Bombers.
In the mix: With Toby Greene and Matt de Boer set to miss with hamstring injuries, potential debutants Xavier O’Halloran and Jack Buckley will again come into the mix, with Jackson Hately, Bobby Hill and Tom Green also waiting in the wings for another opportunity at senior level. Callan Ward returned from his minor knee injury last weekend, playing in a scratch match against the Swans reserves, while Adam Kennedy (hamstring tendon) also had his first hit-out since way back in round one. Daniel Lloyd will miss a bit more footy having undergone finger surgery after round eight, while Sam Reid (calf) is also a couple of weeks away. Matt Buntine is set for a few weeks on the sidelines with a quad strain, while Sam Taylor is a wait-and-see as he continues to recover from his recent illness.
In the spotlight: Much has been made of Nick Haynes’ brilliant season, and Lachie Keeffe’s ability to pick up where Taylor left off when he got sick a few weeks back. But Phil Davis is quietly piecing together another fantastic season down back. As a one-on-one defender Davis stacks up well as one of the most reliable in the league, winning considerably more than he loses. He has conceded just three goals in nine rounds to his direct opponent, and his intercept game has also been as strong as ever.
