The GIANTS and the Hawks meet in a final for the very first time as the sides look to keep their premiership dreams alive in a mouthwatering Elimination Final.  

AFL Elimination Final

GIANTS v Hawks
Saturday, September 6 at 3:15pm
ENGIE Stadium | Wangal Country  

What It Means For The GIANTS

It’s all on the line for the GIANTS as they look to take down the Hollywood Hawks and keep their dreams of a maiden AFL premiership alive in season 2025.

Entering their eighth finals campaign in the last 10 seasons in a remarkable show of consistency, the GIANTS have been here plenty of times before but must utilise the lessons of years gone by if they’reto take down a brash and confident young Hawthorn side.

Having only lost once since early June – winning nine out of their last 10 games – the GIANTS will enter Saturday’s clash as one of the form teams of the competition and full of confidence after another stellar season which saw them finish fifth after equalling a club record with 16 wins during the home and away season. 

As they look to keep their season alive, the GIANTS could be bolstered by a star-studded number of inclusions on Saturday, with Jesse Hogan, Jake Stringer, Josh Kelly, Brent Daniels, Stephen Coniglio, and Jack Buckley all looking to prove their fitness and return from injury to take on the Hawks.

While their form line will give them extreme confidence heading into Saturday’s game, history is also on the GIANTS’ side, with the Hawks yet to win a game against the GIANTS at ENGIE Stadium in six attempts.  

The Opposition 

Finishing eighth with a record of 15-8, the Hawks regained their mojo in the second half of the season and will enter Saturday’s cutthroat clash having won eight out of their last 11 games.

Channelling their form from last year that labelled them the Hollywood Hawks, Hawthorn registered impressive wins over the likes of Adelaide and Collingwood in the back half of this season and will enter finals knowing their best can match it with any side in the competition. 

While falling short to the Lions by 10 points in round 24, the Hawks showed once again that they’re a danger team heading into this year’s finals series, with Sam Mitchell’s side pushing the reigning premiers all the way but ultimately falling short by less than two kicks at the Gabba.

While they’ve registered just one win from five games on the road this season, the Hawks will take confidence in the fact they’ve already beaten the GIANTS this season after registering a 12-point win over Adam Kingsley’s side in Launceston back in round three.

The Hawks could also be buoyed by the return of star Josh Weddle for Saturday’s game, with the talented running defender returning from injury through the VFL last week and now looking to take his place in the senior side for Saturday’s cutthroat final. 

Recent History

If recent history is anything to go by then Saturday’s clash could go down to the wire, with an average winning margin of just 6.6 points separating the sides in the last five meetings.  

With the last four games split two games apiece, the Hawks are the most recent victor in the match up, registering a gritty 10.16 (76) to 9.10 (64) win in Tasmania in round three.  

Played with an incredible breeze favouring one end, the Hawks used a strong third term to take a 20-point lead into the final term before holding on for a gutsy 12-point win.  

Tom Green (31 touches), Toby Greene (19 touches, two goals), and Jesse Hogan (four goals) were all strong for the GIANTS, while the Hawks were led by Jack Gunston (16 touches, 2.3) and Josh Weddle (20 touches, nine marks, one goal). 

Key Match Up: Can The GIANTS Cast A Spell On The Wizard?  

Dubbed ‘The Wizard’, there’s no doubting that Nick Watson is one of Hawthorn’s most dynamic and important players and one who poses a huge threat to the GIANTS on Saturday. 

Watson was one of the Hawks’ best in their win over the GIANTS in round three, with the speedy 170cm small forward having a hand in everything on his way to 21 touches, nine score involvements, five tackles, and a goal.

With one of Connor Idun, Lachie Ash, or Joe Fonti the likely GIANT tasked with trying to shut down The Wizard, their ability to limit Watson’s impact will go a long way to a GIANTS victory in Saturday’s cutthroat Elimination Final.  

GIANTS Player To Watch: Jake Stringer

While Nick Watson is an x-factor for the Hawks, the GIANTS certainly have a number of their own and there’s arguably none bigger than Jake Stringer.

Brought to the club in the summer after more than 200 games with the Dogs and the Bombers, Stringer will break a four-year finals drought on Saturday if he’s named to return from a hamstring injury to take on the Hawks.  

One of the competition’s most dynamic players, Stringer has overcome illness and injury in his first season in orange and charcoal to become a key piece of the GIANTS’ forward half with a starring back half of the season.  

Kicking 25 goals from his 14 games, Stringer has shown on numerous occasions that he’s still a force to be reckoned with and capable of doing things only a select few in the competition can.

The 31-year-old has kicked multiple goals in eight games this season and is averaging almost three goals per game over his last five games from round 18-22.

Brought to the club as an x-factor capable of performing in big games, the stage is set for Stringer on Saturday if he’s ruled fit to face the Hawks. 

In The Mix: 

With Hogan, Stringer, Kelly, Daniels, Coniglio, and Buckley all looking to prove their fitness to take on the Hawks on Saturday, Adam Kingsley is tasked with the unenviable position of deciding just how many changes he should make for a crucial Elimination Final.  

Team Selection:

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

Rehab Report: 

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

Where To Watch:

The GIANTS’ clash with the Hawks will be shown live and free in NSW and the ACT on Channel 7 from 2:30pm, as well as nationally on Fox Footy, Kayo, and Binge from 2pm.

At first, a win looked likely for Hawthorn after a seven-goal first term. Then just about a lock after being 42 points up midway through the third. And in the blink of an eye, seriously in doubt.

With one foot just about in the semi-final door and a date against Adelaide next Saturday night just about confirmed, Saturday’s Elimination Final against the GIANTS took a sudden and gripping term as the Orange Tsunami fired through six straight goals in the shadows of three-quarter time to set up a grandstand finish for the ages at ENGIE Stadium. 

But Hawthorn dug deep when it mattered most, staving off the cut-throat and jaw-dropping GIANTS brigade who looked just about dead and buried at half-time, headlined by Tom Green and Finn Callaghan (34 disposals each) and super sub Josh Kelly (two goals, 18 disposals) to scurry away to a 19-point win and leave the GGIANTS heartbroken, 16.11 (107) to 13.10 (88).

The Hawks dominated proceedings for most of the afternoon to leave their opponents shell-shocked early as 100-gamer Jai Newcombe (32 disposals, 12 clearances) and Jarman Impey (28 disposals) ran rampant, while Tom Barrass led the defensive unit with aplomb, before the GIANTS regathered steam, wrestled their way back on top of the midfield battle and booted home seven straight majors either side of three-quarter time to almost pull off one of the greatest finals triumphs.

Whether it was the margin being blown out and then suddenly whittled away, the starring roles of some of the game’s most prolific names, or the tight, nerve-wracking finish that would have been sensational no matter the result, this was one elimination that will be remembered for a long time.

The GIANTS looked to dictate terms early to hem the ball inside their attacking arc and concede just one opposition forward entry in the game’s opening 10 minutes, however, scratchy movement and a lack of composure going into attack squandered chances to open up a critical lead at home.

While the GIANTS wallowed in their inefficiency, it was the exact opposite for the Hawks. Newcombe finally broke through for his side’s first of the afternoon, making the most of a lapse in the GIANTS’ concentration off the back of a 50-metre penalty, and his side didn’t need many more chances to land barnstorming blow after blow.

Seven goals from its 13 first-quarter entries encapsulated Hawthorn’s precise power. Connor Macdonald, Nick Watson and Karl Amon rapidly piled on three goals from as many entries – and in almost as many minutes – as the on-song engine room, led by Newcombe, flexed its muscle over the GIANTS’ star-studded brigade. 

Even from the first break, it appeared it might just be a bridge too far for the GIANTS to overcome.

It was a similar tale in the second as the Orange Tsunami showed signs of swelling and then surging their way back on top. But Hawthorn once again had the answers to fire through another four goals to build upon their quarter-time advantage and add to the GIANTS’ forward-half woes. It looked like that script wouldn’t change.

The situation soured even further for the GIANTS when Darcy Jones was subbed out of the game with a suspected right ACL injury just minutes before half-time, and although his replacement was the seasoned September stalwart in Kelly – starting as the substitute for the first time in a decade – it seemed it still wouldn’t be enough of a boost to ultimately pass the Hawks.

Initially, the pressure seemed inescapable. After coming close to firing through a long-awaited major in the third term, growing gun Aaron Cadman let the blood rush to his head and let slip what would have been a certain goal. True to form, Jack Ginnivan made sure to let his young contemporary know all about it, but ultimately let his actions do the talking with two laser-like majors mere moments later.

That looked like it may well be the end of the GIANTS. But there’s a reason their tagline is ‘Never Surrender’. 

Six tide-turning goals to round out the fourth term incredibly sliced the margin back to six points, as the returning Hogan (three goals for the game), Jake Stringer (who, like Hogan, was largely unsighted in the first half) and substitute Kelly (two goals, 14 disposals) all impacted offensively; the latter playing a pivotal hand in firing up the engine room to first drive the Hawks on the back-foot and then into panic stations.

Hogan’s third goal to open the fourth quarter shook ENGIE Stadium to its foundations, then laid the groundwork towards a nail-biting conclusion. Dylan Moore and Toby Greene missed shots for their respective sides as the single-figure margin danced in favour of both sides, yet it was the cool head of the incoming Sam Butler, and then Mabior Chol seconds later, that thrust the brown and gold more than two goals clear.

The GIANTS continued to push even with the seconds ticking down, but the final roll of the dice landed Hawthorn’s way as Jake Riccardi hit the post with just over a minute on the clock in what would have put his side eight points adrift.

GIANTS               3.2    6.5    12.7   13.10 (88)
HAWTHORN       7.2   11.3   13.7   16.11 (107)

GOALS

GIANTS: Hogan 3, Bedford 2, Kelly 2, Callaghan, Riccardi, Briggs, Jones, Thomas, O’Halloran
Hawthorn: Macdonald 3, Gunston 3, Ginnivan 3, Chol 2, Newcombe, Watson, Amon, Dear, Butler

BEST

GIANTS: Callaghan, Green, Kelly, Whitfield, Hogan, Briggs
Hawthorn: Newcombe, Impey, Meek, Weddle, Ginnivan, Macdonald, Barrass

INJURIES

GIANTS: Jones (knee)
Hawthorn: Nil

LATE CHANGES

GIANTS: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

GIANTS: Josh Kelly (replaced Darcy Jones in the second quarter)
Hawthorn: Changkuoth Jiath (replaced Calsher Dear in the third quarter)

Crowd: 20,634 at ENGIE Stadium