Match Details:

GIANTS v Magpies
Saturday, March 9 at 7:30pm
GIANTS Stadium | Wangal Country

What it Means for the GIANTS

It doesn’t get much bigger for a season-opener than hosting the reigning premiers in the AFL’s first-ever Opening Round. Up against the Magpies under the spotlight of the footy world, the GIANTS are hoping a potential record crowd at GIANTS Stadium can help them clip the Magpies’ wings and get their 2024 campaign off to the hottest of starts.

After a big summer on the track, the GIANTS are hoping to build on the foundations laid last year under first-year coach Adam Kingsley who was crowned the 2023 AFL Coach of the Year after taking the GIANTS from a 16^th place finish in 2022 to within a point of a grand final berth in his first season at the helm.

The GIANTS will enter Saturday’s huge showdown with Collingwood off the back of an impressive pre-season performance last week against the Gold Coast Suns, with the orange tsunami at its surging best to claim a comfortable 44-point win at Manuka Oval.

With high expectations following last year’s record-breaking run to a preliminary final, a first up win over the reigning premiers would be the perfect catapult for what the club hopes is a big 2024.

The Opposition

The Magpies will enter 2024 in different fashion to years gone by, going from the hunters to the hunted on the back of winning the 2023 AFL Premiership.

Joining Essendon and Carlton with their 16^th AFL/VFL premiership following a four-point grand final win over the Brisbane Lions last September, the Magpies will enter 2024 as the premiership favourites across the majority of the footy world.

After finishing 17^th in 2021, new coach Craig McRae took the Magpies to a preliminary final in his first season and a premiership in his second - he’ll now have to achieve something not done at Collingwood in almost 90 years if he wants to continue his remarkable run - with the Magpies not having won back-to-back flags since 1935-36.

The Magpies will enter their quest for back-to-back flags with almost their entire 23 from last year’s premiership side intact - with small forward Jack Ginnivan the only omission after he was traded to Hawthorn in the summer. Ginnivan has been replaced in the side by former Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz who looks set to make his Magpies debut against the GIANTS on Saturday.

Recent History:

While the GIANTS’ clear-cut rivals are the Swans and the Western Bulldogs, there’s no doubting a healthy rivalry with the Magpies is quickly building.

With the sides clashing in several big games over the last few seasons - including a huge 2019 preliminary final win to the GIANTS - and of course, the heartbreaking one-point preliminary final loss to the Magpies last season - there’s often fireworks when the two sides meet.

Fittingly, after a long summer, the GIANTS will look to not only test themselves on Saturday against the benchmark of last season, but against the side that ended their 2023 campaign in the epic preliminary final stoush at the MCG.

In one of the games of the 2023 season, the GIANTS held a 17-point lead early in the third term before the Magpies fought their way back to hold on for a nail-biting 8.10 (58) to 8.9 (57) win.

Josh Kelly (34 disposals), Tom Green (31 disposals, six clearances, one goal), and Lachie Whitfield (26 disposals) led the way for the GIANTS in defeat, while Jordan De Goey (34 disposals, 13 clearances) and Nick Daicos (28 disposals, six clearances) were the Magpies’ best.

In what’s trending to be a sell-out crowd as part of the first-ever Opening Round, Saturday’s clash is likely to only add further fuel to what’s becoming an exciting rivalry between the two clubs.

Key Match-Up: Who Takes Toby?

There’s no doubting there’s been some enthralling battles between GIANTS captain Toby Greene and the ‘Pies across the journey. Often engaged in a box-office battle with Magpie defender Brayden Maynard, the one-one-one matchup is worth the price of admission alone.

With fellow Magpie defender Isaac Quaynor also a likely match-up, deciding on who takes on the GIANTS’ inspirational skipper - who is coming off a career-best 66-goal season, and who has kicked 11 majors in his last four outings against the Magpies - will no doubt play a crucial role in the outcome of Saturday’s clash.

GIANTS Player to Watch

Last season Tom Green established himself as one of the competition’s best players, but at just 23 years old it appears there’s plenty more room for improvement for the midfield bull.

Green enters his fifth season following a career-best year where he was named in the 40-man All-Australian squad after leading the league in disposals at an average of a whopping 32 per game to go along with 6.1 clearances, five tackles and 4.5 inside-50s per match.

After finishing runner-up in last year’s Kevin Sheedy Medal, Green looks primed to elevate his game to another level this season as he continues his rapid rise to sit amongst the game’s elite.

Green warmed up nicely for Saturday’s season-opener with a strong outing in last week’s pre-season clash with the Suns, finishing with a team-high 31 touches, nine clearances and six inside-50s.

Green will need to be at his best once again on Saturday if the GIANTS are to take down the reigning premiers and their star-studded midfield. 

In the Mix

While the GIANTS have ruled out young gun Finn Callaghan and reliable defender Harry Perryman from the clash with the Pies, both star forward Jesse Hogan and exciting half-back Lachie Ash have been deemed fit and available after both missing the pre-season match against the Suns last week.

Recent draftee Harvey Thomas could also come into consideration to make his debut after impressing throughout the summer and across the club’s two pre-season matches against the Swans and the Suns.

Team Selection

The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Magpies at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au.

Rehab Report

Get a full injury update ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Magpies here.

Where to Watch

Saturday’s match will be shown live on Channel Seven, Fox Footy and Kayo nationally from 7pm.

Social Media

Be part of the #BigBigSound in 2024 - For all the latest news, follow @GWSGIANTS on social media: Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The GIANTS have sent an early warning shot across the competition with a resounding 32-point victory over reigning premier Collingwood on Saturday night.

The 'Orange Tsunami' was flowing as the GIANTS surged away with nine of 11 goals either side of half-time to blow away the Magpies for an 18.6 (114) to 11.16 (82) triumph in front of 21,235 fans at ENGIE Stadium.

VOTE FOR YOUR MVG

Emerging forward Callum Brown sparked the GIANTS early with three goals in the first term and finished with a five-goal haul in a breakout performance. 

GIANTS spearhead Jesse Hogan booted four majors and goalsneak Brent Daniels also added an equal career-high four as the Magpies' injury-riddled defence struggled to deal with the onslaught.

But the GIANTS' win has come at a cost with former skipper Callan Ward watching the second half from the bench after injuring a shoulder when brought to ground heavily in a tackle.

Ward was wrapped up by Beau McCreery after gathering a ground ball in the Pies' forward half, the 296-match veteran soon running from the field in discomfort and subbed out at the main break.

But there was no slowing down the GIANTS' midfield and dashing defence. Tom Green (30 disposals, nine clearances, one goal), Stephen Coniglio (28, four clearances) and Kieren Briggs (14, six) won the ball at the coalface, while Josh Kelly (32, one goal), Lachie Ash (25) and Lachie Whitefield (33) were sublime on the outside.

Brayden Maynard was one of few Magpies backs who could hold their head high, shutting down GIANTS skipper Toby Greene while also adding plenty of run with 16 disposals and a late goal. 

While the GIANTS' brisk ball movement put the Pies backline under pressure, the visitors' forwards were left battling ahead of slow and steady progress up the field until a run of consolation goals late in the match.

Brody Mihocek finished with three goals and a couple of near misses, while Bobby Hill kicked two majors on his return to ENGIE Stadium for the first time since moving from the GIANTS to the Pies.

Nick Daicos (34 disposals, one goal) and brother Josh (28) battled hard even as the Magpies were put to the sword, while Darcy Cameron (20, two) was immense in the ruck.

In a see-sawing first half reminiscent of last year's preliminary final that the Pies snatched in a one-point thriller, both sides enjoyed periods of momentum without putting their opponents away.

It was little surprise when Nick Daicos set up the Pies' first goal of their premiership defence with a deft pass on the outside of the boot to Mihocek, the key forward swinging onto his right to snap truly.

But it was Brown and the GIANTS from there as last year's preliminary finalists made a firm statement to start their 2024 campaign.

Future is right for Irish GIANT

Callum Brown first announced himself with two goals in a shock win over Geelong in just his second AFL match in 2021, but only became a regular in the GIANTS' side last year with 19 goals in 19 matches. Even with eye-catching signs of potential, the former Gaelic football prodigy was able to fly under the radar and boot the GIANTS' opening three goals against the Pies. The first came when the Magpies failed to stand the mark and allowed Brown to run to within range and bomb a 55m drop punt, while the next two both arrived as the 23-year-old found space all alone inside 50. Brown can expect to come under closer attention from here but there is enough to suggest the Irishman's future is as bright as his fluorescent orange boots.

GIANTS                                             5.2     10.5     14.5     18.6 (114)
COLLINGWOOD                                3.6     6.10     6.13     11.16 (82)

GOALS

GIANTS: Brown 5, Hogan 4, Daniels 4, Cadman 2, Kelly, Greene, Green
Collingwood: Mihocek 3, Hill 2, Cameron 2, Mitchell, McCreery, Maynard, N.Daicos

BEST

GIANTS: Brown, Green, Hogan, Daniels, Kelly, Coniglio, Ash, Whitfield
Collingwood: N.Daicos, Cameron, Maynard, J.Daicos, Schultz, Lipinski 

INJURIES

GIANTS: Ward (shoulder)
Collingwood: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

GIANTS: Toby McMullin (replaced Callan Ward in the third quarter)
Collingwood: John Noble (replaced Tom Mitchell in the third quarter)

Crowd: 21,235 at ENGIE Stadium