Where and When: Sunday July 18, 6.10pm, Metricon Stadium (Gold Coast)
Last time they met: This will be the GIANTS’ first return match for the season, having beaten the then-unbeaten Swans by two points back in a round four nail-biter. It was an inaccurate day – the GIANTS kicked 9.17 to Sydney’s 10.9 – and the GIANTS had to come from behind late in the game to notch just their second win for the season. A Toby Greene goal with less than four minutes to play opened the door, before a Josh Kelly snap with just 66 seconds left to play pushed the GIANTS into the lead. Buddy Franklin’s five goals meant he was a handful, though defender Sam Taylor also had some big moments in the tense final term. Harry Himmelberg and Jeremy Finlayson combined for four goals, with Kelly, Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto, Callan Ward and others bringing enormous pressure around the ball.
Where to watch: https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-premiership
What it means for the GIANTS: Somehow, a spot in the top eight is still up for grabs, with the GIANTS one of a few teams to blow a chance to grab it last weekend. The one-point loss to the Gold Coast meant the team finished the round in 10th spot rather than 7th, before Richmond and West Coast went on to lose their games. Currently, the GIANTS sit on 30 points, half a game behind Fremantle (7th), the Eagles (8th) and St Kilda (9th). The Swans are further ahead, on 40 points. With six games to go, the door is still ajar for whichever team wants to play in September.
Where’s the opposition at: The Swans are in really strong form. Since their move to Melbourne, they’ve been able to thrash West Coast at Geelong and knock off the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium. Before that came a narrow loss to Port Adelaide. They were quick, clean and precise against the Dogs, winning the game by 19 points despite losing the clearance count. Callum Mills was excellent in the midfield, taking on Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli with the run and ball use of Jake Lloyd, Jordan Dawson and others a key to the win. Since the GIANTS last played the Swans, youngster Joel Amartey has joined Franklin as a key forward target.
The number: 10. The gradual regeneration of the line-up this year has led to nine already-listed GIANTS having their busiest seasons as senior players: Lachie Ash, Tom Green, Connor Idun, Isaac Cumming, Jack Buckley, Xavier O’Halloran and Bobby Hill have all played more games this year than ever before, with Matt Flynn and Kieren Briggs debuting in their sixth and third seasons at the club. Callum Brown makes it 10, though he was unable to get onto the ground after debuting as the medical sub against Brisbane before the bye. Tanner Bruhn and Conor Stone have also made their first appearances as GIANTS, coming out of last year’s draft.
In the mix: Stephen Coniglio will be back, after a long, long time on the sidelines rehabbing his ankle injury and two games back in the VFL to get moving again. Lachie Whitfield’s absence, through concussion, has opened up a spot for the skipper. Briggs or Flynn – or both – will come back into the team too, with Shane Mumford set for a rest. Youngsters Will Shaw (shoulder) and Ryan Angwin (hamstring) joined the injury list last weekend, but O’Halloran and Bruhn both put in strong performances in the VFL and are pushing hard for a chance.
