Where and When: Saturday, May 7 at 4:35pm, Manuka Oval 

Last time they met: 

Geelong was the club that put an end to the GIANTS’ late-season surge in 2021, beating them by 35 points in a semi-final played at Optus Stadium in Perth. Missing the suspended Toby Greene and an injured Jesse Hogan, the GIANTS hung in there during the first half, conceding five game-breaking goals in the third term then forcing the margin back to 20 points during the last quarter before going on to lose. Tom Hawkins was tough to stop – just a few weeks after being well beaten by Sam Taylor he kicked five of Geelong’s 15 goals – with Jeremy Cameron and Esava Ratugolea helping stretch the GIANTS’ defence. Lachie Whitfield and Nick Haynes were among the better performing GIANTS, with Conor Stone kicking two goals on his return to the team and Harry Himmelberg adding another two.

Broadcast: 

Saturday’s match will be shown live on 7mate in NSW and the ACT from 4:30pm and Fox Footy and Kayo nationally.

The match will also be shown via the AFL Live app with a subscription purchase.  
 
The match can also be heard on the following radio stations in Sydney this week: SEN’s AFL Nation. For the latest television and radio broadcast guide, click here. 

What it means for the GIANTS: 

Last week’s win over Adelaide was both a big relief and another chance to get the season going, with the GIANTS playing the best, quickest and most exciting footy for the year in the first half against the Crows. At 2-5 the season is still alive and this game against the Cats starts a little run of home games for the GIANTS, with matches in Canberra and GIANTS Stadium over the next few weeks.

Where’s the opposition at?

Geelong are a tough opponent year on year, and this season is no different. The Cats fell to Fremantle by three points at home last week, but still sit inside the top eight with four wins from their seven games. The Cats are hoping to regain Patrick Dangerfield from injury this week – he’s missed two matches after sustaining a bad cork – and have both Rhys Stanley (ankle) and Sam Menegola (knee) in the mix, but have lost youngster Max Holmes to an ankle injury. Ratugolea and Zach Guthrie were emergencies last week, and Luke Dahlhaus came on as the medical sub to replace Holmes.

Player watch:

Isaac Cumming is putting together some season, and becoming one of the team’s most important players in the process. The 23-year-old had an excellent 2021 season but has been better again this year, going from strength to strength with his defending and using his beautiful right boot to get the GIANTS moving off half-back. According to Champion Data, across the last 54 games he rates elite in the competition for disposals, intercepts, intercept marks and metres gained, as well as above average for kicking and one-on-one defending.

In the mix: 

There are plenty. And with the AFL side getting through unscathed against the Crows, some may have to push their case a little longer. Pretty much every GIANT played well in the VFL side’s win over the Northern Bullants, with Tanner Bruhn, Xavier O’Halloran, Jacob Wehr and James Peatling among the better players. Kieren Briggs dominated in the ruck and Jake Riccardi kicked an incredible nine goals. Jake Stein and Leek Aleer are ready to go should the backline need them, and Josh Fahey continues to go from strength to strength in his first year at the club, playing as a running half-back. Conor Stone returned from injury in that match, as did Zach Sproule, and both will push for a spot once their match fitness is back.

A powerful first quarter from Jeremy Cameron has haunted his former club and got Geelong's inconsistent season back on track.

Cameron had three goals by quarter-time against the GIANTS and finished with five, helping the Cats lead from start to finish and win 12.15 (88) to 4.11 (35) at Manuka Oval on Saturday evening.

He got help from Tyson Stengle, who slotted three classy goals, while it all started in the middle with an impressive display from Mitch Duncan who had 16 disposals in the first term.

Ahead by 20 points at half-time, Stengle and Cameron both snapped goals in a two-minute span in the third term to break the GIANTS fight, while the former GIANT made it five in the last as Geelong blew the margin right out.

Earlier, Cameron wasted little time making an explosive impact with two identical set-shot snaps from 50m and the boundary line, while he added a third from the same pocket inside the first quarter.

That helped the Cats capitalise on some lax GIANTS pressure and their strong start continued when Brad Close found room to slot one on the run.

But the GIANTS' Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene pulled goals back to stay within 13 points at quarter-time.

Greene made it two in a row via a high-flying mark inside 50 as the GIANTS strengthened around the ground, before Stengle soccered the ball home with a clever finish and Tom Hawkins curled a goal home from the pocket to pinch a 20-point half-time break.

Duncan carved the GIANTS up at will and had 33 touches for the match, while Patrick Dangerfield impressed on his return to the side with 28.

Accuracy in front of goal certainly didn't help the GIANTS as they finished with 4.11.

Isaac Cumming was best for the GIANTS, having found 29 disposals and 12 rebound 50s, with 25 of his possessions kicks.

Hogan might draw some scrutiny post-game having struck Jed Bews with an elbow pursuing the football early in the contest.

Bews didn't return to the game due to concussion protocols, meaning medi-sub Mitch Knevitt joined Cooper Stephens as Geelong's two debutants for the day.

GIANTS                                         2.2    3.5     3.9    4.11 (35)
GEELONG                                     4.3    6.7    8.11    12.16 (88)

GOALS

GIANTS: Greene 2, Himmelberg, Hogan
Geelong: Cameron 5, Stengle 3, Close, Z.Guthrie, Hawkins, Narkle

BEST

GIANTS: Cumming, Whitfield, Ward, Green, Taranto,
Geelong: Duncan, Cameron, Blicavs, C.Guthrie, Stengle, Z.Guthrie

LATE CHANGES

GIANTS: None
Geelong: Rhys Stanley replaced in selected side by Zach Guthrie

MEDICAL SUBS

GIANTS: Matt de Boer
Geelong: Mitch Knevitt, replaced Jed Bews in the second quarter