The GIANTS’ push towards September continues as they look to create history with a win over the Bombers in primetime footy.

AFL ROUND 18
 
Bombers v GIANTS 
Thursday, July 17 at 7:30pm 
Marvel Stadium | Wurundjeri  

What It Means For The GIANTS  

With four straight wins the orange tsunami is beginning to surge at the right time of year and now the GIANTS will look to achieve something they’ve not done in nine years: beat the Bombers at Marvel Stadium. 

While only having met three times at the venue since then - in 2019, 2023, and 2024 – Essendon has been victorious in all three prior meetings under the roof at Docklands.  

The GIANTS will look to break their Marvel Stadium hoodoo following a red-hot month of footy which has seen them reassert themselves as one of the league’s top sides, with impressive wins over fellow premiership contenders Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Geelong in that stretch.

Following last week’s statement 26-point win over Geelong, the GIANTS will be hoping to carry over their momentum into Thursday’s game, with emerging key forward Aaron Cadman further cementing his status as a star of the future with a match-winning performance against the Cats.

Just 12 hours before the announcement that he’d signed a new four-year extension with the club, Cadman tormented the Cats in a brilliant best-on-ground display to finish with 15 disposals, eight marks, and a new career-high six goals. 

Cadman had a host of teammates helping lead the way against the Cats who will be hoping to continue their strong form on Thursday against the Bombers, with Finn Callaghan (29 touches), Lachie Whitfield (32 touches), and Jake Stringer (four goals) all starring against Geelong.

Currently sitting seventh at 11-6 on a logjammed ladder, Thursday’s clash looms as a must-win danger game for the GIANTS who need to win to continue their finals push with just six rounds remaining.  

The Opposition  

The Bombers (14^th, 6-10) will enter Thursday’s clash looking to defy their growing injury list with an upset win over the GIANTS.

There’s no hiding there’s an injury crisis at the Bombers but Brad Scott will be hoping his side can rise to the occasion of Thursday night footy and continue their three-match unbeaten streak against the GIANTS at Marvel Stadium. 

Essendon will be aiming to end a difficult stretch on Thursday after losing their last six games as their injury list continues to grow. 

Despite their struggles, the Bombers should not be taken lightly on Thursday after challenging one of the league’s top sides for three quarters just a fortnight ago before dropping away in the fourth term to go down to the Suns by 41 points.

While they were unable to keep up with the Suns for four quarters, the Bombers played some brilliant football for the opening three terms to trail by just three points at the final change before running out of steam in the final quarter.  

Not given a chance by many outsiders due to their extensive injury list, the Bombers will be out with a point to prove against the GIANTS on Thursday as they search for their first win since round 11.  

Recent History  

Despite the difference in their standings, the GIANTS will enter Thursday’s game having beaten the Bombers just once in the last three meetings, with both losses coming at Marvel Stadium where the club is yet to beat the Bombers since 2016. 

In the most recent clash, the Bombers claimed a 20-point win at Marvel Stadium to spoil Callan Ward’s 300^th game in round nine last year. 

Down by 22 points in the second term, the Bombers kicked nine of the next 12 goals to set up a gutsy 12.10 (82) to 9.8 (62) win at home.  

In a much more positive result for the GIANTS, the sole win they have against the Bombers in the past three meetings was a record-breaking result, with Adam Kingsley’s side creating club history with the GIANTS’ highest-ever score (162) and highest-ever winning margin (126), with a massive 25.12 (162) to 5.6 (36) win at ENGIE Stadium in round 23, 2023.

Key Match Up: Skipper v Stopper

While missing a host of key players through injury, the Bombers are still being led valiantly by star skipper Zach Merrett who will be crucial to the Bombers’ chances of an upset win on Thursday night.

Amid an All-Australian calibre season, Merrett will enter the game following another strong performance after collecting 31 disposals, six clearances, and seven inside 50s in last week’s loss to the Tigers.

With his silky skills crucial to the Bombers’ ball movement, Merrett could be in for an intriguing battle with Toby Bedford if the GIANTS elect to tag the Essendon skipper on Thursday night. 

While Bedford has nullified a long list of the game’s stars over the past 18 months, he hasn’t been utilised as a full-time tagger in recent weeks, with Adam Kingsley stating on Tuesday that he’s still unsure whether to unleash Bedford on Merrett this week or elect to allow the clubs’ midfields to go head-to-head.

However, if the GIANTS do elect to tag Merrett on Thursday then expect a fascinating matchup between the Bombers’ brilliant skipper and one of the league’s best stoppers.  

GIANTS Player To Watch: Jake Stringer

An intriguing subplot of Thursday night’s game will be the performance of Jake Stringer who will face off with his former side for the first time.

Traded to the GIANTS in the summer after seven seasons, 123 games, and 207 goals in red and black, Stringer had an interrupted start to his time as a GIANT through illness and injury but has hit his straps in recent weeks and will be eager to continue his hot form against his former side on Thursday night.  

Showing exactly why the club traded for him, Stringer will meet his former side after two starring performances during the last three games, with the dynamic forward kicking two brilliant clutch goals to help the GIANTS beat the Suns in round 15 before adding four more majors to his season tally in a dazzling display against Geelong last week.

Forever the showman, there’s no doubt Stringer will be looking to put on a show against his former side under the bright lights on Thursday night. 

In The Mix  

At least two spots are up for grabs in Thursday’s side after Adam Kingsley revealed on Tuesday that star duo Jesse Hogan and Josh Kelly will both be managed against the Bombers. 

Vice-captain Stephen Coniglio is a leading candidate to return to the AFL side this week after two successful return games in the VFL following his 13-week layoff with a glute injury. 

Max Gruzewski, James Leake, Toby McMullin, and Jacob Wehr are others likely to come into consideration.

Click here for a recap of last week’s VFL game and who pressed their claims for AFL selection.

Team Selection

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

Rehab Report

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

Where To Watch

The GIANTS’ clash with the Bombers will be shown live and free in NSW and the ACT on Channel 7 and 7plus from 7pm, as well as nationally on Fox Footy, Binge, and Kayo from 7pm.   

Jake Stringer was always going to put on a show against his old side.

Facing Essendon for the first time since leaving the club late last year, he was the GIANTS north star in attack in the 16.8 (104) to 7.14 (56) win at Marvel Stadium on Thursday evening.

Stringer's three goals only told part of the story, with his leap at the footy and willingness to bring others into the game crucial to the GIANTS' attacking style.

The visitors started the game with some lethargy, making them susceptible to the pressure efforts of the Bombers. Skill execution from both sides was a concern, however, with error-laden passages of play, miskicks, and dropped marks.

Although it was under the Marvel Stadium roof, it did rain in the afternoon before the roof was closed, so the surface was damp, exacerbating the poor ball use across the field.

Once settled, however, the GIANTS got their touch back, and moved the footy with devastating precision down the field. And it was Stringer and Callum Brown (seven marks, two goals) who cashed in.

The grunt of Tom Green (30 disposals, 16 clearances) got things started around the contest, while Toby Greene (17 disposals, two goals) showed his class in the transition forward.

A second-quarter surge from the GIANTS, in which they kicked five unanswered goals, opened up the gap on the scoreboard that Essendon was unable to cede.

What couldn't be questioned was Essendon's effort, with the likes of Isaac Kako and Archer May going to great lengths to worry the GIANTS. What didn't work, however, was the attempt to connect between midfield and forward.

Jack Buckley's work on Peter Wright was exceptional – before being tactically subbed out in the third quarter. Sitting back shoulder and conceding the leading lane to the Bomber, his ability to spoil the ball from behind was impressive.

Wright (16 hitouts, two goals) was able to warm into the game, however, once Leek Aleer was handed the role, with the substitution of ruck Vigo Visentini, forcing him into the ruck for the remainder of the game. He moved with more freedom starting at the contest, floating forward, and getting dangerous.

And for debutant Liam McMahon, it wasn't a bad night out despite the loss. He kicked the Bombers' first two goals of the game – following Essendon's eight consecutive behinds to open its scoring.

There were some concerns for Bomber Sam Durham in the third term, undergoing a head injury assessment following a heavy tackle from GIANTS ruck Kieren Briggs, but he was able to return to the field in the final quarter.

ESSENDON          0.5   1.8   5.10   7.14 (56)
GIANTS                2.0   8.3   13.5   16.8 (104)

GOALS 

Essendon: McMahon 2, Wright 2, Kako, Perkins, Duursma
GIANTS: Stringer 3, Gruzewski 2, Riccardi 2, Brown 2, Greene 2, Cadman, Briggs, Green, O'Halloran, Jones

BEST 

Essendon: Merrett, McMahon, Kako, Ridley
GIANTS: Green, Stringer, Callaghan, Idun, Jones, Ash

INJURIES 

Essendon: Archer May (nose)
GIANTS: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

Essendon: Zak Johnson (replaced Vigo Visentini at three-quarter time)
GIANTS: Harry Rowston (replaced Jack Buckley in the third quarter)

Crowd: 20,347 at Marvel Stadium