As the GIANTS travel to the nation’s capital on Saturday to tackle the Demons at UNSW Canberra Oval, we take a look back at the history between the two sides.
The weekend’s clash will be the 10th meeting between the two clubs, with Melbourne holding a slender 5-4 advantage in the ledger – including winning the previous two matches.
It’s been over a year since the two teams faced off in the opening round of season 2016 at the MCG.
On that day, the GIANTS held a 21-point lead heading into the last quarter, before a three-goal burst from Jesse Hogan inspired his side to a nail-biting two-point win.
The last time the two sides squared off at UNSW Canberra Oval, the GIANTS claimed a dominant 55-point victory back in round two, 2015.
A brilliant midfield display from Callan Ward, Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio helped set up the win, with Ward claiming the three Brownlow votes in what remains the GIANTS’ biggest win over the Dees.
The Demons’ biggest win came back in the GIANTS’ foundation year in 2012, with Tom Scully running out in orange and charcoal for the first time against his former club.
Taken at number one in the 2009 AFL draft, Scully played 31 games for Melbourne before making the move to Sydney to join the GIANTS for their inaugural season.
Scully isn’t alone in changing jumpers, with a number of GIANTS and Demons being traded throughout the two clubs’ history.
Two former GIANTS could run out for the Demons on Saturday, with Dom Tyson and Sam Frost expected to play.
Tyson was taken at pick three in the 2011 draft and debuted in the GIANTS’ opening round clash with the Swans as a substitute.
After an injury disrupted two seasons in Sydney that limited him to just 13 games for the GIANTS, he was traded to the Demons at the end of 2013 in a deal that saw the GIANTS receive pick two which was used to secure Josh Kelly.
Frost played 21 games for the GIANTS after being taken in the 2012 rookie draft before moving home to Melbourne in 2015.
Former GIANTS underage recruit Tommy Bugg will miss the weekend’s clash through suspension with the foundation GIANT spending four years in Sydney before joining Melbourne in 2016.
Former Demon captain James McDonald retired at the end of the 2011 season with 251 games for the Dees to his name, before coming out of retirement to take up a playing/assistant coach role with the GIANTS in 2012.
McDonald is still part of the fabric at the GIANTS, presenting Will Setterfield with his first GIANTS jumper at the MCG just a fortnight ago.
The GIANTS take on Melbourne in the nation’s capital on Saturday at 1:45pm at UNSW Canberra Oval. CLICK HERE for tickets.
