Where and when: The Gabba, Friday September 18, 7.50pm AEST
Last time they met: It was a long time ago, back in round 17 of the 2019 season. The GIANTS had a 44-point win in Canberra that day, setting up the victory with a dominant eight-goal first term and kicking away again late after the Saints worked to reduce the lead to 24 points at half-time. Jeremy Cameron kicked six goals, his equal-third biggest haul for the season, with Toby Greene, Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson also hitting the scoreboard with two goals apiece. Zac Williams won 30 possessions, Matt de Boer and Isaac Cumming did good jobs on the in-form Jade Gresham and Shane Savage, while Nick Haynes and Sam Taylor teamed up well in defence with Phil Davis missing.
TV and online: https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-premiership
What it means for the GIANTS: It’s a chance to end a topsy turvy season on a positive note, and to keep our very slight chance of playing finals alive. That’s out of our hands now, and will depend on what the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne do in their games against Fremantle and Essendon, but only a win can keep us in that mix. Should the GIANTS win and those clubs lose, the GIANTS would jump above Melbourne and draw level with the Bulldogs on 36, bringing percentage into it.
Where’s the opposition at? The Saints have played some good footy in their first year under new coach Brett Ratten, and enter the final round in seventh spot with 32 points and a superior percentage to the sides jostling for the last top eight spot below them. They were beaten by West Coast in their last outing, kicking the first three goals of the last quarter to make a late charge having been held goalless in the second and third terms.
The number: 6. Jack Buckley’s debut against Melbourne last week, and Connor Idun’s return to the backline, means the GIANTS have played all but six players on the list this season, with defenders Matt Buntine and Jake Stein, midfielder Nick Shipley, rookie Callum Brown and the GIANTS' two young ruckmen, Matt Flynn and (the injured) Kieren Briggs still awaiting their chance.
In the mix: There are plenty. Jack Buckley is expected to be right to play, despite suffering a delayed concussion following his debut game against Melbourne. Callan Ward has overcome his finger injury, and is also good to go and the skipper, Stephen Coniglio, will be putting his hand for a return to the team. There are a host of youngsters the coaches could also consider: Lachie Ash, Isaac Cumming, Jake Riccardi, Jye Caldwell, Xavier O’Halloran, Jackson Hately and Flynn.
