The GIANTS return home to ENGIE Stadium (formerly GIANTS Stadium) for an electrifying clash with the Power on Sunday afternoon.

Match Details   

GIANTS v Port Adelaide
Sunday, June 16 at 4pm
ENGIE Stadium | Wangal Country

What it Means for the GIANTS   

The GIANTS’ inconsistency across four quarters has seen them hit a mid-season road bump after losing four of their last five games ahead of Sunday’s crucial clash with the fourth-placed Power at ENGIE Stadium. 

The Orange Tsunami was back to its best with a thrilling win over the Cats in Geelong in round 11 but the GIANTS were unable to replicate the form across four quarters against Hawthorn in Tasmania on Saturday as a poor second half saw them lose a three-goal lead and fall by six points at UTAS Stadium.

Still sitting in 8^th spot with a 7-5 record, the GIANTS have a huge opportunity to build some momentum and return to the winners list when they welcome Ken Hinkley and the Power to town on Sunday. 

Having been hit hard by injuries in the last month, the GIANTS may re-gain some troops to take on the Power, with two-time Kevin Sheedy Medallist Josh Kelly (calf) and key defender Jack Buckley (calf) both set to face fitness tests later in the week in a bid to return on Sunday.  

With tough games against the Swans, the Crows in Adelaide, and the Blues to follow, the GIANTS’ clash with the Power on Sunday is crucial as they look to remain inside the top eight. 

The Opposition 

Fresh off the bye last round, the Power will make the trip to Sydney feeling fresh and in good spirits having won three of their last four games.

Sitting 4^th with an 8-4 record, the Power will be looking to continue their strong season on Sunday in what will be the club’s first visit to ENGIE Stadium in over a decade, with the two sides last meeting at the venue in 2013. 

Despite their strong form, Port Adelaide did fall in their last outing prior to the bye, with the Blues knocking them off by 36 points at Adelaide Oval in round 12. 

The Power started the match strong but a Blues blitz in the final quarter saw the visitors register just their second win at Adelaide Oval in 11 years.

In a huge boost for the visiting Power, the club announced on Tuesday that skipper Connor Rozee has overcome his ankle injury and will be available to take on the GIANTS on Sunday.  

Recent History  

While recent history between the sides had fallen heavily in favour of Port Adelaide, the visitors will be out for vengeance on Sunday after the last meeting between the sides saw the GIANTS pull the plug on the Power’s premierships aspirations with an impressive 27-point semi-final win at Adelaide Oval last year.

The Power had won four straight games against the GIANTS heading into the clash, but the Orange Tsunami proved too good in the do-or-die final as the GIANTS ended Port Adelaide’s season with a gutsy four-goal win. 

Lachie Whitfield (33 touches) and Tom Green (29 touches, eight clearances) were everywhere in the win, while Jesse Hogan (17 touches, 4.4) and Toby Greene (15 touches, 3.2) proved to be a headache for the Power defence.

Key Match-Up: Young Midfield Maestros

Sunday’s game will present some mouth-watering match-ups as some of the competition’s best young midfield talent go head-to-head.  

With co-captains Stephen Coniglio (shoulder) and Kelly missing through injury in recent weeks, the GIANTS have had to rely on many of their youngsters to shoulder the load as they look to remain in touch with the top four. 

On Sunday the GIANTS will again put their faith in their youthful and exciting midfield group, with Tom Green (23) and Finn Callaghan (21) looking to continue their strong seasons as James Peatling (23) and Xavier O’Halloran (23) continue to impress in a variety of roles. 

The young group, aided by the likes of veteran Callan Ward and possibly a returning Kelly, will need to be at their best against the Power who also boast one of the league’s best young midfields – headlined by the star-studded trio of Rozee (24), Zak Butters (23) and Jason Horne-Francis (20).

GIANTS Player to Watch   

While the GIANTS fell just short of the Hawks last week, it wasn’t due to the output of livewire small forward Brent Daniels who will enter Sunday’s clash with the Power off the back of a red-hot performance. 

Not usually a high possession-getter, Daniels was everywhere against the Hawks as he zigged and zagged through traffic with seamless ease on his way to a career-high 27 touches to go along with a goal, five clearances and five score involvements. 

Registering ‘above average’ for his position in disposals, kicks, handballs and tackles this season, Daniels will be hoping he can produce another similar performance to last week, but this time in a victory against the Power. 

In the Mix  

Two key GIANTS are in the mix to return on Sunday with both Kelly and Buckley facing fitness tests, while in the VFL a host of players continue to press their claims for a senior call-up, with Conor Stone, Lachlan Keeffe and Max Gruzewski amongst the contingent impressing at the level.

Team Selection

The GIANTS will name their squad to take on the Power at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au and then the final team at 5pm on Friday.  

Rehab Report  

Get a full injury update ahead of Sunday’s match here.

Where to Watch  

Sunday’s match will be shown live and free on 7 Mate from 4pm in NSW and the ACT, as well as nationally on Fox Footy and Kayo.

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 breathed new life into its campaign after overcoming a slow start and wayward kicking for goal to defeat Port Adelaide by 22 points at ENGIE Stadium.

The GIANTS had lost five of their past seven matches and were on the ropes early as they struggled to hit the scoreboard but gradually edged past the Power for a 9.19 (73) to 6.15 (51) triumph on Sunday.

Toby Greene was one of the worst culprits in the forward half as the GIANTS failed to put the Power away, the skipper booting five behinds before a late goal that all but sealed the game. 

Josh Kelly (27 disposals, one goal) put the finishing touches on the victory with a major in the last two minutes after a superb performance in his return from a calf injury for a first match since round nine.

The GIANTS' zippy forward Toby Bedford (16, one) was outstanding in a shock tagging role, clamping down on Zak Butters to limit the Power vice-captain to only 17 touches and little impact on the game.

Lachie Whitfield (28) added dash out of defence, while Tom Green (30) and Callan Ward (23) were immense around the stoppages as the GIANTS rediscovered their touch to climb up to fifth spot. 

The Power missed the opportunity to rise as high as second on the ladder and have now dropped below the GIANTS to end the round in seventh amid a logjam of teams.

Dan Houston was a standout for the Power as he gathered 35 disposals while adding pace and penetration in all parts of the ground, while Kane Farrell impressed with 30 touches.

Mitch Georgiades (three goals) and Todd Marshall (one) made a bright start for the Power to combine for all three majors to the first change while leading a new-look forward line missing the out-of-form Charlie Dixon and Jeremy Finlayson.

Veterans Ollie Wines (18 disposals) and Travis Boak (18) battled hard for the Power, but skipper Connor Rozee (14) looked out of sorts in his return from a calf injury and just his second match since round eight.

The GIANTS took a while to get going with only their second goalless opening term under coach Adam Kingsley and were at risk of paying the price for wasteful kicking with seven behinds before Callum Brown booted their first major.

The pacey forward made it two in as many minutes as the hosts got the game on their own terms with better ball use coming out of defence to take a seven-point lead into the main break.

The GIANTS were on top for much of the second half without quite putting the Power away until a late flurry of goals that blew out the final margin.

Bedford Puts Sleeper Hold On Butters

Toby Bedford was a surprise starter at the opening bounce standing alongside Power playmaker Zak Butters rather than closer to the GIANTS' goal. The livewire forward went on to announce himself as a tagger in his 50th match, after holding Butters to only three handballs in the first term while gathering six disposals himself. Butters edged to eight touches by the main break then finished with 17 while spending more time forward in the second half, but was well below his best and the career-high 28.1 disposals he had averaged coming into the clash. Bedford added a goal in the third term and gathered 16 disposals in an outstanding all-round display.

Greene Denied Classy Goal

The GIANTS were still goalless when Toby Greene pounced on a loose handball 15m out from goal with Power defender Darcy Byrne-Jones closing quickly. The GIANTS skipper hurried to get the ball down to the outside of his right boot to dribble through what appeared to be a classy goal as Byrne-Jones raised his finger to appeal that it had taken a nick. Los Del Rio's classic Macarena rang out, Greene took a break on the bench and the umpires had the ball back in the centre circle for an age, until a lengthy score review overturned the GIANTS' opener with a contentious call.

GIANTS                                            0.6     4.8     7.14     9.19 (73)
PORT ADELAIDE                            3.3     3.7     5.10     6.15 (51)

GOALS

GIANTS: Brown 2, Thomas, Kelly, Hogan, Greene, Daniels, Cadman, Bedford
Port Adelaide: Georgiades 3, Ratugolea, Marshall, Byrne-Jones

BEST

GIANTS: Kelly, Callaghan, Green, Bedford, Whitfield, Briggs, Ward
Port Adelaide: Houston, Farrell, Georgiades, Wines, Boak

INJURIES

GIANTS: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

GIANTS: Toby McMullin (replaced Aaron Cadman in the fourth quarter)
Port Adelaide: Quinton Narkle (replaced Ollie Lord in the third quarter)

Crowd: 8,914 at Engie Stadium