Where and When: Friday August 13, Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm
Last time they met: The GIANTS lost a tight one back in round nine, breaking away from the Tigers early in the game at Marvel Stadium and working out to a five-goal lead midway through the third quarter before the Dustin Martin show got started. With a handful of senior Richmond players missing, Martin and young midfield teammates Liam Baker and Riley Collier-Dawkins got busy in the last quarter, with a Daniel Rioli goal snatching the win with four minutes to play. The GIANTS’ crisp, quick ball movement was a highlight early, with the likes of Jacob Hopper, Callan Ward and Tim Taranto dominating through the middle and Jesse Hogan grabbing it on the lead. Hogan kicked four of the GIANTS’ 12 goals, with the midfield crew and defender Sam Taylor all among the best players on the night.
Where to watch: https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-premiership
What it means for the GIANTS: It’s simple: the GIANTS just need to keep winning. There’s a bunch of clubs still angling for seventh and eighth spot on the ladder, and while the GIANTS currently sit in eighth spot a loss will open the door for clubs like Richmond and Essendon to edge ahead of them leading into the final round. Last week’s big win over Geelong was powered by enthusiasm and effort; let’s keep it going.
Where’s the opposition at: The Tigers, like the GIANTS, have had an up and down season. But they know what they’re doing at this time of year and last week were able to dig their way out of a hole against North Melbourne, finishing strongly in the second half to win by 33 points and keep themselves in the finals race. They have three talls for the GIANTS to take care– Tom Lynch, Jack Riewoldt and Callum Coleman-Jones – and while Martin is missing from the side that last played the GIANTS, Trent Cotchin, Dion Prestia, Shai Bolton, Shane Edwards and Kane Lambert are back into a side that is always tough to beat.
The number: 50. Congratulations to Sam Taylor, who has not only returned from the debilitating infection that saw him spend two weeks in hospital last year, lose 10 kilograms and need months of rest before he could start training again, but hit the best form of his young career. Taylor has been a desperately competitive player all year for the GIANTS – interrupted only by an ankle injury – and put it all on show against Tom Hawkins and the Cats last week, spoiling well, closing space and intercepting the ball again and again and again. He plays his 50th game this week.
In the mix: There’s a bit for the match committee to work through this week, after making eight changes to the side last weekend. The GIANTS are appealing Toby Green’s one-match suspension, hoping he will be available to lead the team and back up his four-goal effort against the Cats last week. Josh Kelly and Jacob Hopper should return to the midfield, Phil Davis has sat out his 12 days post-concussion, and Jesse Hogan is a chance to come back into the forward line. Adam Kennedy, Sam Reid and Daniel Lloyd are also in the mix to return from injury, Bobby Hill is out of quarantine and back with the group and Shane Mumford has had a week’s rest, but Brent Daniels and debutant Callum Brown are definite outs, with both suffering hamstring injuries during the Geelong game.
