Where and when: Optus Stadium, Saturday August 29, 4.35pm AEST
Last time they met: It was round five last year when the GIANTS went down by four goals at Canberra in what was an upset loss coming off a significant win over Geelong in Geelong. The Dockers trailed by four points at three-quarter-time, but kicked six goals straight to take the win. Jesse Hogan (14 marks and three goals) proved a handful, as did Brandon Matera (four goals) and Matt Taberner (three goals), with Michael Walters compiling 25 possessions and kicking three goals of his own. Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly and Lachie Whitfield were the biggest ball-winners for the GIANTS, with the Jeremys – Cameron and Finlayson – combining to kick seven of the team’s 11 goals.
TV and online: https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-premiership
What it means for the GIANTS: With just five games to go and the GIANTS in 11th spot on the ladder, one win outside the eight, every game is a huge one from here. The West Coast game was a winnable one in the end, but conceding the first four goals of the game and another few late in the third quarter made it a bit too hard. The Dockers have built into some solid and steady form over the last few weeks, winning three of their last four games and losing to Carlton only with an after-the-siren goal. So this is a chance to get a much-needed win against an in-form side before heading back to Queensland for the last part of the season.
Where’s the opposition at? The Dockers beat Sydney in round 13 to notch their fifth win for the season and have shown plenty of promise under new coach Justin Longmuir. Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong were busy in the midfield against the Swans, with Nat Fyfe racking up six clearances to go with his 22 possessions. Luke Ryan was best on ground off half-back, and Taberner kicked two of the Dockers’ seven goals.
The number: 10. The GIANTS have played the Dockers just nine times in their nine year existence; only once, in 2016, have the two teams met twice in a season. This game will be the 10th clash. Carlton, Hawthorn and North Melbourne are the three others teams the GIANTS had played nine times before this season; at the other end of the scale there have been 19 clashes with the Swans so far, 14 with Richmond and 13 with the Western Bulldogs.
In the mix: The usual suspects are fit and waiting in the wings – Jackson Hately, Tom Green, Jack Buckley, Zac Langdon – with Matt de Boer a strong chance to return from his hamstring injury. Phil Davis is another two weeks away due to a right knee problem, and Callan Ward’s interrupted run will continue. He underwent finger surgery in Perth on Monday and will miss a month. The rest of the team got through the Eagles game unscathed, while Sam Reid (calf) and Isaac Cumming (hamstring) have come off the injury list, leaving just Sam Taylor (back), Tom Hutchesson (hamstring) and the two former skippers unavailable.
