Match Preview: Round 14 v Carlton
Where and When: Saturday, June 19 at 7.25pm AEST, GIANTS Stadium
Last time they met: The GIANTS had a nine-point win over the Blues in round 15 last year. It was a win that pushed the club inside the top eight, but wound up being the final victory of the 18-round season 2020. It was also a bit of an escape: trailing by three goals at three-quarter time of the game having kicked just two goals for the game, the GIANTS scored the last four goals of the match to take the points 6.12 (48) to 5.9 (39). The backline – led by soon-to-be All Australian Nick Haynes – held things together all day, with Toby Greene was dangerous all day and Jake Riccardi kicking two of the four final-term goal in just his third senior game. Accuracy was an issue, with the team kicking 1.9 to half-time. The match was a milestone one, with Shane Mumford celebrating his 200th game in the AFL, and his 100th in orange. Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering and Marc Murphy were among the better performed Blues.
Where to watch: https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-premiership
What it means for the GIANTS: Last week’s draw with North Melbourne was less than ideal, but kept the GIANTS within reach of a top eight spot along with a stack of other clubs bunched up in the same part of the ladder. There isn’t much room left for slip-ups. The team plays three clubs placed below it on the ladder in the next month – the Blues, Hawthorn and Gold Coast as well as top-placed Melbourne – and have a chance to separate themselves from that pack, but as recent weeks have shown and last week emphasised, competition is close and no team is easy to beat this year.
Where’s the opposition at: Last week’s bye means that the Blues will not need to play without Harry McKay, who was subbed out with a concussion in their last match. Nic Newman is in the same boat. They are hopeful Michael Gibbons will return to the side after a hamstring injury, and will be able to call upon defender Lachie Plowman, who will come back after suspension. They lost to West Coast by four goals in their last start, and had their last win back in round 10, when they beat Hawthorn by 23 points. McKay has been in some awesome form for them this year, with Walsh going from strength to strength in the midfield.
The number: 4. We know a lot of former GIANTS have made their way to Carlton over the years, but how many have come the other way? The answer lies with Setanta O’hAilpin, who after being delisted by the Blues and redrafted to western Sydney in ahead of the 2012 season and played eight games in his two years at the club, and defender Bret Thorton, who played 188 games for Carlton but managed just one with GWS in 2013. Ruckman Sam Jacobs arrived via Adelaide after starting with the Blues – he played seven games for the GIANTS last year – and let’s not forget Dylan Buckley, who notched his two games for the club in season 2018.
In the mix: Harry Perryman is a strong chance to come back into the side he exited midway through the round nine match against Richmond with a hamstring injury. Draftees Conor Stone and Cam Fleeton missed the VFL’s game on the weekend with minor hamstring and knee injuries – where Phil Davis had his first run since overcoming a calf injury – and should be right to play some footy again this weekend. Tanner Bruhn, Jacob Wehr, Jake Riccardi and Ryan Angwin performed well in the win over Aspley, while Xavier O’Halloran went unused as medical sub in North Melbourne draw and will push for a call to the starting 22. Jesse Hogan, Stephen Coniglio and Sam Taylor are among those still on the comeback trail.
