Where and When: 

GIANTS v Blues
Saturday, April 1 at 4:35pm
Wangal Country | GIANTS Stadium

What it Means for the GIANTS: 

An eight-goal second quarter cost the GIANTS as they fell to a 14.16 (100) to 11.15 (81) defeat at Optus Stadium against West Coast last weekend. The Eagles piled on six unanswered goals and eight in total during the second term, with GIANTS coach Adam Kingsley saying his team would address the second quarter lapse this week. "I think they kicked half their score in that quarter alone, and we need to be better in future around being able to manage that when we haven't got momentum (and) being able to minimise the damage that they were able to inflict,” Kingsley said. Returning to GIANTS Stadium this weekend for the last time until May 21 because of the Easter Show, the GIANTS will be eager to put on a show for the orange faithful.

Last Time We Met: 

Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow kicked four goals to help steer Carlton to a 36-point win over the GIANTS at Marvel Stadium late last season. The Blues led by just three points at half-time but put a break on the GIANTS during the third term and in the end, pulled clear for a 13.12 (90) to 8.6 (54) win. Toby Greene showed flashes of brilliance, using Carlton’s Lewis Young as a launch pad to take what should have been mark of the year in the opening quarter.

Greene finished with 3.2 from 15 disposals with Stephen Coniglio (21 disposals, six clearances, two goals) and Harry Himmelberg (25) also amongst the GIANTS’ best. 

Where’s the opposition at? 

Carlton endured a nervous finish before holding on by eight points to defeat the reigning premiers Geelong at the MCG last Thursday night. Seven days on from sharing the points with Richmond on the opening night of the season, Carlton led Geelong at every change to record a 13.12 (90) to 12.10 (82) win. The Blues travel to GIANTS Stadium this weekend looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season.

GIANTS Player to Watch: 

Stephen Coniglio was as influential as anyone in the opening round, gathering 32 disposals, eight clearances and 810 metres gained in a brilliant performance against the Crows at GIANTS Stadium. The 29-year-old continued his brilliant form at Optus Stadium on the weekend, finishing with 28 disposals, nine tackles and nine clearances to establish himself as one of the best midfielders in the game at the start of the new season.

In the Mix: 

The GIANTS are expecting vice-captain Josh Kelly and star half-back Lachie Whitfield to be available for Saturday’s clash with Carlton at GIANTS Stadium. The GIANTS will however be without tough midfielder Jacob Wehr, who will be sidelined for the next three months after scans on Monday revealed a broken shoulder. The 24-year-old was subbed out of the GIANTS’ 19-point loss at Optus Stadium in the second quarter with an AC joint injury, with subsequent scans revealing a broken scapula. In the VFL, it was a tough day but Kieren Briggs (17 disposals, one goal), Josh Fahey (23 disposals) and Cameron Fleeton (15 disposals, four marks) impressed.

VFL:

The GIANTS’ VFL side take on the Carlton Reserves in a curtain-raiser at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday at 12:55pm.

Rehab Report:

Get a full injury update ahead our clash with Carlton here.

Where to watch: 

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

Tickets:

GIANTS fans wishing to purchase seats to this match can use the ticket link here.

Carlton has overcome a spirited challenge from GIANTS to seal a 10-point triumph at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

While Charlie Curnow kicked the last major of the match with fewer than three minutes remaining to secure the win, it was captain Patrick Cripps who stood up when it mattered, amassing a career-high 42 disposals in the 9.20 (74) to 9.10 (64) win.

The Blues were almost made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal, especially after they only managed five behinds from 15 inside-50s in the third term to leave the door open for the GIANTS.

The GIANTS kicked three consecutive goals either side of the last change to claim the lead until the Blues were awarded a controversial free kick in the goal square when Stephen Coniglio disputed a decision.

Jesse Motlop made the most of the umpire's contentious call to put the Blues back in front at the 15-minute mark as the teams battled it out between the arcs until Curnow's final intervention.

Cripps and GIANTS young gun Tom Green went head-to-head for much of the contest in an enthralling duel between the on-ball master and apprentice.

Cripps was superb for the Blues with game-highs for disposals (42), clearances (13) and score involvements (11), while Green all but matched him around the ball with 34 touches and seven clearances.

Matthew Owies slotted two of the Blues' early majors but was subbed out in the second term due to a hamstring injury, while Curnow also finished with two.

The GIANTS were boosted by the return of Josh Kelly (30 disposals, one goal) and Lachie Whitfield (27) from concussion, while Coniglio (29) will be disappointed by the late call against him but continued his superb start to the season.

On a tough day for tall forwards in blustery conditions, the GIANTS' Jake Riccardi kicked his first two goals of the season, while Jesse Hogan also booted two.

Opening Term Shootout

It was an old-fashioned shootout in the opening term as both sides traded blows in a goal-for-goal rhythm throughout the quarter. GIANTS spearhead Jesse Hogan and Blues forward Matt Owies both snagged two majors as the sides combined for nine goals in an entertaining opening term. Owies' scintillating start was abruptly ended when he was subbed out with a hamstring injury early in the second term.

Kelly dines out on Blues, again... 

After sitting out last week's game with concussion, the returning Josh Kelly continued the rich vein of form that he has experienced against Carlton in recent years. The midfielder has averaged 33.2 disposals and 6.4 clearances in his last five games against the Blues, and today's outing was equally as impressive. Kelly was one of the GIANTS' best, finishing with 30 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances.

GIANTS                                         5.3     6.5      7.9       9.10 (64)
CARLTON                                    4.6     7.11    7.16      9.20 (74)

GOALS

GIANTS: Riccardi 2, Hogan 2, Daniels 2, Ward, Kelly, Greene
Carlton: Owies 2, Motlop 2, Curnow  2, Durdin, Docherty, Silvagni

BEST

GIANTS: Kelly, Green, Riccardi, Ward, Ash
Carlton: Cripps, Docherty, Newman, Saad, Cerra

INJURIES

GIANTS: Nil
Carlton: Matt Owies (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES

GIANTS: Conor Stone (replaced Cooper Hamilton in the third quarter)
Carlton: Lochie O’Brien (replaced Matt Owies in the second quarter)