Where and When: 

Saturday, March 19 at 5:10pm, Accor Stadium.

Tickets:

Get ready to celebrate a big big season with the GIANTS.

Click HERE

GIANTS fans who wish to purchase tickets to this Saturday's Match can purchase directly through Ticketmaster, simply click the above link and complete your purchase. 

Last time they met: The GIANTS clung on to record a famous one-point win against Swans in an enthralling elimination final, ending the Swans' season in dramatic style at the University of Tasmania Stadium last year. Leading by seven points nine minutes into the final term, the GIANTS conceded the final six behinds of the match, with midfielder Harry Perryman diving to rush a behind in the final minute to send the GIANTS into the semi-final. 

TV and Online: Saturday’s opening round match will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally and on 7mate in NSW and the ACT from 5pm.

What it means for the GIANTS: It’s been 197 days since the GIANTS walked off Optus Stadium with their season over. For the GIANTS, those 197 days have been spent reviewing, learning, and putting in the work to go all the way in 2022.The retirement of Shane Mumford and the suspension of Braydon Preuss has again opened the door for Matt Flynn and Kieren Briggs to try and take the ruck crown, whilst Tom Green, Xavier O’Halloran, Adam Kennedy and Jesse Hogan could all return after suffering injuries late in the season. In the off-season the GIANTS recruited former Eagle and GIANTS Academy junior Jarrod Brander and added Finn Callaghan, Leek Alleer, Josh Fahey and Cooper Hamilton via the Draft.

Where’s the opposition at: All eyes will be on Lance Franklin as the superstar forward closes in on his 1000th career goal, with Phil Davis and Sam Taylor expected to line up on the 35-year-old. Former No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin will make his debut for the Swans on Saturday after last playing at AFL level in round 16, 2018 for St Kilda. John Longmire’s side will notably be without Tom Papley and Joel Amartey for the clash at Accor Stadium.

The number: 273. The days between the GIANTS’ last game in front of home fans before the club escaped the Sydney lockdown and spent 74 days on the road in 2021.

In the mix: Brander could make his club debut this weekend whilst Jake Riccardi is expected to step into Jeremy Finlayson’s role after he departed for Port Adelaide at the end of last season. Defender Lachlan Keeffe could make his return after suffering an ACL injury against Essendon in round eight last year.

The Swans had a five-goal hero. It just wasn't Lance Franklin.

With 'Buddy' mania at fever pitch ahead of Saturday night's season-opener against the GIANTS, the champion forward entered the game five goals short of his 1000th, few would have predicted a five-goal performance from any other Swan. 

But Luke Parker, Sydney’s co-captain and star midfielder, went on a goalkicking blitz in the second half of the Accor Stadium derby to spearhead his side to a 20-point comeback win. 

If the Swans generally shake down the thunder from the sky, then Parker simply stole it off Franklin, who was well held by GIANTS defender Phil Davis and kicked one goal in a quiet night to edge within four majors of the magical milestone. Attention now turns to next Friday night's clash with Geelong at the SCG.  

Parker picked up where he left off after his best and fairest 2021 season, with his goals coming in the second half as the Swans stared down some battles in attack. At one stage, he had kicked five of the Swans' most recent goals before they ran away with the 17.10 (112) to 13.14 (92) victory.  

He claimed his fourth Brett Kirk Medal as the best player in the derby.

In an entertaining, high-scoring clash, the New South Wales rivalry produced another exciting contest stacked of highlights and brilliance. The first-half goal fest saw the Swans and GIANTS one-up each other with end-to-end run, but Sydney had the stamina to keep it up by kicking eight goals to three after half-time.  

Isaac Heeney kicked three goals as did Ollie Florent, who was superb throughout including two terrific goals – one straight out of the centre bounce and another after spinning out of a tackle and breaking clear.

The Swans kicked three of the first four goals of the game, but the GIANTS' response was swift. As Tom Green (31 disposals, two goals) controlled the midfield with his bullocking and contested strength, Harry Himmelberg and Daniel Lloyd feasted in attack, both booting two goals for the term. 

Franklin didn't register a disposal in the opening quarter – his tackle on Xavier O'Halloran near the goal square was close to being awarded holding the ball – but it was the GIANTS' new-look forward set up that was having the bigger say to set up a 15-point lead at the first break.

The superstar Swan got involved in the second term, kicking his first goal for the day and setting up another, as his side kicked six goals for the quarter. Sydney started to run the ball well out of defence and got into its groove, but the GIANTS' efficiency when they went forward – they kicked five goals from 10 inside-50 entries – kept them at a nine-point advantage at half-time.

The clubs continued to trade goals – and good ones, too. Stephen Coniglio's quick feet saw him break open and slot an on-the-run special, while new teammate Jarrod Brander's off-the-ground soccer from long range hit the sweet spot.  

But the Swans were making their own highlight reel, with Braeden Campbell's left-foot bomb and Parker's snap matching their efforts.

Parker's third for the term – and fourth for the game – saw the Swans take a six-point lead into the final quarter with momentum on their side. They didn't lose it from there.  

GIANTS                                                  5.3       10.7       12.10       13.14 (92)
Swans                                                        3.0       9.4       13.9     17.10 (112)

 
GOALS  

GIANTS: Himmelberg 3, Green 2, Hill 2, Lloyd 2, Brander, Coniglio, Taranto, Ward
Swans: Parker 5, Florent 3, Heeney 3, McLean 2, Campbell, Franklin, Gulden, Hayward

 
BEST  

GIANTS: Green, Davis, Taranto, Ward, Coniglio
Swans: Parker, Florent, Heeney, Mills, Blakey 

INJURIES  

GIANTS: Nil
Swans: McInerney (leg)

SUBSTITUTES  

GIANTS: Tanner Bruhn (unused)
Swans: Colin O'Riordan (unused)