When and Where: 

Saturday, July 8 at 4:35pm
GIANTS Stadium | Wangal Country

What it Means for the GIANTS: 

The GIANTS moved into 10^th on the AFL ladder after a thrilling two-point win over Melbourne in Alice Springs last weekend. The GIANTS appeared destined to fall short with about two minutes left in the final quarter when Josh Kelly marked, played on and launched from close to 60m out to secure a dramatic 7.5 (47) to 5.15 (45) win. The win over Melbourne is the GIANTS’ third consecutive win in a row and has Adam Kingsley’s side only four points outside the eight.

Last Time We Met: 

Harry Himmelberg had a final two minutes to remember, taking a spectacular contested mark, kicking the winning major and making a desperate save on the goal line to seal a two-point win for the GIANTS over Hawthorn earlier this year. It was a case of death by a thousand cuts for the Hawks, the GIANTS kicking 4.6 in the final term to lock up the 10.17 (77) to 11.9 (75) come-from-behind victory at Norwood Oval.Himmelberg soared high above James Sicily 30m out from goal, directly in front, and steadied his nerves to take the win with 90 seconds remaining. Jarman Impey looked to have pinched back the game with a late bomb from 50, but Himmelberg – thrown down the other end for the final minute – saved the day with a back-bending touch on the goal line to secure a famous GIANTS win.

Where’s the opposition at? 

Carlton made light work of Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon, downing the Hawks 17.10 (112) to 7.10 (52) at the MCG. Sam Mitchell’s side, who currently sit 16^th on the AFL ladder, could recall defender Jarman Impey after he was a late withdrawal last weekend.  

GIANTS Player to Watch: 

Young GIANTS ruckman Kieren Briggs was tasked with competing against Melbourne’s star big men Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy over the weekend – who boast a combined eight All-Australians between them. But rather than shirking the job at hand, Briggs stood up to the challenge and showed why he is a ruck on the rise. The 23-year-old finished with an equal game-high 19 hit-outs, five clearances and six tackles for the GIANTS.

In the Mix: 

The GIANTS will regain Lachie Whitfield from a one-match suspension this weekend with small forward Brent Daniels also a chance to return. Daniels, who played 11 of the first 12 games for the GIANTS this season, kicking 17 goals across that period, will face a fitness test later this week. Matt Flynn and James Peatling impressed in the VFL, with veteran Phil Davis also a standout after returning from a calf complaint.

VFL:

GIANTS v Box Hill Hawks    
Saturday, July 8 at 12:55pm
GIANTS Stadium | Wangal Country

All VFL matches will be live streamed free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. 

Visit: afl.com.au/stream-vfl and follow the links. All matches will be available to watch on demand.

Rehab Report:

Get a full injury update ahead Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn, 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.

Jesse Hogan and Stephen Coniglio have fired for the GIANTS and given their finals hopes a huge boost with a 13-point victory over Hawthorn. 

The GIANTS were unable to shake off a dogged Hawks outfit until Hogan earned a free kick and goaled with less than two minutes remaining to seal a 12.13 (85) to 10.12 (72) triumph at GIANTS Stadium.

The goal was Hogan's fourth as the outstanding forward on the field while Coniglio stood out with 30 disposals and three goals in a hard-fought contest.

Former captain Coniglio continued his stirring return to form as Finn Maginness restricted last week's matchwinner Josh Kelly to six disposals and Blake Hardwick kept Toby Greene goalless for the first time this season.

Another former GIANTS skipper Callan Ward (19 disposals) also stepped up in the midfield along with Finn Callaghan and Harry Perryman, while Kieren Briggs impressed in the ruck.

Onballer Tom Green (17, one goal) battled hard despite the Hawks finding an advantage at the stoppages, while Hogan and Jake Riccardi (three goals) made the most of the GIANTS' opportunities in the forward half.

A fifth win in six matches takes the GIANTS (8-8) to the brink of the top eight, while the Hawks (4-12) have now lost their past three matches despite being more competitive after back-to-back beltings.

While Maginness and Hardwick clamped down on the GIANTS' major weapons, Jai Newcombe (28 disposals, nine clearances), Conor Nash (27, five) and Will Day (26, three) made their mark in the midfield.

The brave Hawks threatened deep into the final term as they regularly found a way to burst away from the centre bounces and dominated those stoppages 17-6 throughout the contest.

Chad Wingard, Fergus Greene and Josh Ward each booted two goals for the Hawks, while their prized pick from the 2020 draft Denver Grainger-Barras spent plenty of time forward and kicked his first AFL goal.

The GIANTS will be on the road to face Adelaide on Saturday, while Hawthorn will look to snap its three-match losing streak against North Melbourne on Sunday.

Forward duo step up for GIANTS

As the GIANTS' defence stood tall at one end to keep Mitch Lewis goalless and Denver Grainger-Barras to just one major, Jesse Hogan and Jake Riccardi stepped up at the other. They combined for 7.4, and it could have been even more, and took seven marks inside 50.

GIANTS                                             5.3     7.9     9.13     12.13 (85)
HAWTHORN                                    3.4     7.7      8.8      10.12 (72)

GOALS 

GIANTS: Hogan 4, Riccardi 3, Coniglio 3, Lloyd, Green
Hawthorn: Wingard 2, Ward 2, Greene 2, Worpel, Moore, Macdonald, Grainger-Barras

BEST 

GIANTS: Coniglio, Taylor, Hogan, Briggs, Riccardi, Perryman
Hawthorn: Newcombe, Day, Amon, Hardwick, Maginness

INJURIES 

GIANTS: Keeffe (hamstring), O'Halloran (hand)
Hawthorn: Nil

SUBSTITUTES 

GIANTS: Nick Haynes (replaced Lachlan Keeffe in second quarter)
Hawthorn: Harry Morrison (replaced Jarman Impey in fourth quarter)