The GIANTS will be hoping they can celebrate skipper Toby Greene’s 250^th game in winning style while the Blues will be out to continue their push for a spot in the top eight. 

AFL Round 11

Blues v GIANTS 
Saturday, May 24 at 12:35pm
Marvel Stadium | Wurundjeri Country

What It Means For The GIANTS  

The GIANTS (5-5) have a knack for rebounding strongly following a down performance and they’ll be hoping to do so again this weekend when they head south to take on the Blues in front of their passionate home crowd.

Last week the GIANTS were a little off their game and were beaten by the Dockers by 34 points in a rare loss at ENGIE Stadium. 

Despite last week’s upset loss the GIANTS still sit inside the top eight and ahead of Saturday’s clash will be confident they can rediscover the brilliant form shown just two weeks ago when they beat the Cats in a thriller in Geelong.

Adding to the occasion of Saturday’s meeting is a special milestone for the GIANTS, with the side eager to celebrate captain Toby Greene’s 250^th game in winning fashion.

An inaugural GIANT and now the club’s inspirational skipper, Greene has become synonymous with the orange and charcoal and no doubt he and his side will look to lift on Saturday for the special occasion. 

The Opposition  

Carlton sits 11^th on the ladder heading into round 11, following a mixed but largely frustrating start to the season.  

They’ve recorded four wins year to date, with only one of those coming against a top eight side in a hard-fought battle against the Cats back in round seven. 

The Blues will face the GIANTS coming off the back of a tough 16-point loss to the Swans last week at the SCG.

The Blues led for the first three quarters and looked set for an upset away win before a match-winning quarter by Swans star Isaac Heeney left them to rue what could have been as they fell a game outside of the top eight.

Carlton will be hoping it can be more efficient ahead of the footy against the GIANTS on Saturday, with the Blues registering just three scores above 80 throughout its first 10 games despite possessing star twin tower duo Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.  

Recent History  

The GIANTS will be hoping to replicate the success of their last meeting with the Blues in round 17 of 2024; a two-goal win which sparked a seven-game win streak and secured a top four ladder position.

Carlton shot out to a 33-point lead in the first quarter of that match, before the GIANTS clawed back to snatch the narrow victory in front of a home crowd at ENGIE Stadium. 

While the two teams have shared the chocolates over their last four encounters, the Blues taking a narrow 3-2 advantage in wins since 2022.

It’s the first match for the GIANTS under the roof at Marvel for season 2025, a stadium where they hold a narrow winning ratio over Carlton through the past decade. 

Key Match Up: Dazzling Darcy Looking To Run Riot 

A bright spot in a disappointing outing against the Dockers, Darcy Jones’ return to the GIANTS’ side last week proved a nightmare for Fremantle’s defenders. 

Jones featured with two goals in a best on ground performance for the home side and could again prove a thorn in the side of the Blues with key lockdown defender Jordan Boyd ruled out of Carlton’s side.

Carlton’s defensive unit does, however, boast the likes of former GIANT Nick Haynes who is enjoying a stellar season for the side and leads the competition for marks taken from his role at half-back.  

While unlikely to get the matchup on Jones, Haynes could be part of another key match-up in Saturday’s game, with a potential dual with former captain – and milestone man- Toby Greene a possibility. 

GIANTS Player To Watch: Toby Greene 

The GIANTS’ skipper enjoyed a blistering start to 2025, drawing early comparison to his 2023 form which saw him named the All-Australian captain for the first time.  

Known for his match-winning antics and big game performances, Greene’s 250^th match could serve as the catalyst for the team’s return to winning form. 

One of the competition’s most lethal small forwards, Greene has been spending more time up the field in 2025, showing leadership and adaptability by starting around the ball for centre bounces and providing relief to the GIANTS engine room with Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly still sidelined through injury.

Despite splitting his time between the forward 50 and on the ball, Greene has still banked 18 goals for the season while averaging an elite ranking for both disposals and handballs at 17.6 and 11.8respectively.

With the GIANTS eager to return to the winner’s list and firmly entrench themselves in the top eight, expect a customary big game from the GIANTS’ skipper.  

In The Mix 

With Finn Callaghan ruled out for four to six weeks after suffering a minor shoulder dislocation against the Dockers, an opportunity presents for some of the squad’s young midfielders to prove their mettle.

A host of players have put their name up for AFL consideration against the Blues following impressive form in the VFL. 

While suffering their first VFL defeat of the season on Sunday, the GIANTS had several strong performances once again, with James Leake, Harry Rowston, and draftee Harry Oliver leading the way. 

Meanwhile the Blues will be without the footy IQ of Jack Silvagni for Saturday’s contest after he was ruled out through a groin injury, while defender Jordan Boyd will also miss after he entered concussion protocols.

Click here for a recap of last week’s VFL clash.

Team Selection

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

Rehab Report

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

Where To Watch 

The clash with Carlton will be shown live and free in NSW and the ACT on Channel 7 and on 7plus from 12:30pm, as well as live nationally on Foxy Footy and Kayo from 12:30pm.

It was the ideal masterpiece from the GIANTS greatest ever.

On his special afternoon, in his 250th game, Toby Greene was on a one-man mission to prove his place not only as the best GIANT in the brief history of the club, but that it would be a title he would retain for some time yet.

Greene's heroics were as unique, and typically Toby, as ever. Not content to simply change the outcome of the game in attack, as he's done so often before, he chose to step into an undermanned midfield and produce a prolific performance reminiscent of the brash youngster that first stepped through the doors of the club.

The milestone man finished with 28 disposals, three goals, 13 score involvements, six clearances, four tackles and six inside-50s to overwhelmingly inspire the side's sensational and gritty 17.8 (110) to 12.10 (82) win.

He had help, particularly forward of the ball, with the likes of Jesse Hogan (nine disposals, four goals), Jake Riccardi (nine disposals, three goals), Callum Brown (nine disposals, three goals) and Aaron Cadman (eight disposals, two goals) all ensuring Greene's midfield move wasn't felt on the scoreboard.

This time, though, Greene's influence was necessary. Leading a side that had lost four of its last five games – and had lost five of its last six at Marvel Stadium – the captain's performance was a required one. He knew it early, as well, kicking two goals in the first quarter as the match turned into a 10-goal shootout by quarter-time.

Carlton – led by a recalled Sam Docherty (30 disposals, one goal) and the forward potency of Charlie Curnow (12 disposals, three goals) had contributed to the scoring, but perhaps should have grabbed the match by the scruff of its neck throughout a second quarter it largely controlled.

However, despite enjoying the bulk of the play, the Blues kicked just 1.5 for the second quarter. When both Brown and Riccardi added late goals to close the opening half, momentum had swung in favour of the visitors. The lead, so often seesawing, surged in the GIANTS' direction.

While the GIANTS had been good value for their lead, finishing the match with five multiple goalkickers, the Blues had also been masters of their own demise. Just when Michael Voss' side had looked to stabilise things in the third quarter, reducing the deficit to just three points at one stage, they coughed up their chance.

A turnover at half-back from Harry McKay was gleefully gobbled up by Callan Ward, before another misplaced entry kick – this time from Adam Saad – saw the GIANTS move clear in transition and add another from Hogan. It was starting to once again look like that kind of afternoon for Carlton, the type that has blighted much of 2025.

That was summed up in the final 14 seconds. Jesse Motlop's goal, on the stroke of three-quarter time, had seemingly put the hosts in touch going into the final break. But then, in an instant, Riccardi added his third as the buzzer sounded to give the GIANTS crucial breathing space once more.

If it felt like a pattern was unfolding, that's because it was. Just moments later, Cooper Lord's snap brought a baying Blues crowd back into the contest. It was followed, though, by a remarkable Kieren Briggs hack from a ball-up that stunned the crowd at Marvel Stadium.

While that went close to summing up the contest, what happened next proved to be the perfect reflection. With the game begging to be killed off, up stepped Greene once again.

Marking tight on the boundary line, the GIANTS skipper wheeled around and then finished. Arms aloft, it was a demonstration of all his champion qualities.

CARLTON                                  5.1    6.6    9.9    12.10 (82)
GIANTS                                       5.2    8.4    12.5   17.8 (110)

GOALS

Carlton: Curnow 3, Fogarty 2, Cripps, Hollands, White, Docherty, Motlop, Lord, Cerra
GIANTS: Hogan 4, Brown 3, Riccardi 3, Greene 3, Cadman 2, Ward, Briggs

BEST

Carlton: Cripps, Cerra, Docherty, Walsh, Haynes, Lord
GIANTS: Greene, Whitfield, Ash, Jones, Hogan, Green, Thomas

INJURIES

Carlton: Nil
GIANTS: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

Carlton: Jaxon Binns (replaced Blake Acres at three-quarter time)
GIANTS: Harry Rowston (replaced Cody Angove in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 36,468 at Marvel Stadium