It’s the penultimate fixture of the 2017 season; the preliminary final.

With all eyes on the GIANTS’ clash with Richmond at the MCG on Saturday, we dig a little deeper and have a look at the stats that matter.

Richmond have been the second-best team in the competition over the last month of football for forward-half turnovers, meaning the GIANTS will need to be efficient coming out of defence.

Not only are the Tigers good at winning the ball in their forward half, but they punish sides when they turn the ball over and are ranked first in the competition over the past month for points scored from forward-half turnovers.

Richmond have been exceptional at locking the ball in their forward half this year, ranked second for stoppages in their forward half and seventh for time in their forward half over the last month. 

Over the course of the previous two meetings between the GIANTS and the Tigers, Richmond had the ball in their forward half for over 16 minutes more than the GIANTS. 

The GIANTS won’t be too concerned as over the past month their defensive pressure in their forward half has been on the improve. They’re ranked third in the competition over the last month for time spent in the forward half at +6:11 mins.

Richmond has been the highest-scoring team in the competition over the last month and also the best defensive team, averaging the least points conceded. 

The GIANTS will be buoyed by the fact that they have been winning more contested ball than the Tigers in the previous two meetings, averaging six more disposals than the Tigers in each game. 

The Tigers have been scoring from 50.1 per cent of their inside 50s over the past month, however the GIANTS have held them to 36.1 per cent of scores from inside 50s in their last two meetings. This is also well below their season average of 45.5 per cent of scores from inside 50s.

Saturday afternoon’s game will be shown LIVE on 7mate across NSW and the ACT and Fox Footy all around Australia from 4:30pm.

If you’re in Melbourne, head to the Imperial Hotel for a pre-match function from 1:30pm or if you’re closer to home, join your fellow GIANTS fans at a supporter group or supporter venue.