The GIANTS head to the Cattery for a clash with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday for the second week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Match Details
Geelong v GIANTS
Saturday, May 25 at 4:35pm
GMHBA Stadium | Wadawurrung Country
What it Means for the GIANTS
After a record 5-0 start to the season, the sixth-placed GIANTS will be looking to get their mojo back against the Cats on Saturday after losing four of their last five games.
After an impressive 54-point win over Brisbane on ANZAC Day, the GIANTS have since lost their last three games as they travel to Geelong looking to re-gain their exciting early-season form.
Despite being renowned as one of the toughest places to win, the GIANTS will enter GMHBA Stadium on Saturday with recent success on their side, having remarkably won their last three games against the Cats at their home venue.
Finding themselves in an early-season rut around the same time last year, the GIANTS will be hoping they can repeat last season’s seven-point upset win over the Cats - also in round 11 and at the same venue – which saw the club celebrate skipper Toby Greene’s 200th game in winning style.
Entering that clash sitting at 3-7 on the season, the impressive victory sparked the GIANTS’ season as they went on to win 12 of their next 16 games in their record-breaking run to the preliminary final.
With a bye next week, the GIANTS will be looking to leave it all out there in Geelong on Saturday as they aim to enter the break on a high following a tough three-week stretch.
The Opposition
The Cats enter the round 11 clash in a similar position to the GIANTS after recently hitting a roadblock following a red-hot start to the season.
Sitting atop the AFL ladder and undefeated at the conclusion of round seven, the Cats have since lost their last three games as they return home looking to rebound against the GIANTS.
In their most recent performance, the Cats were handed their biggest ever defeat by the Gold Coast Suns, losing by 64 points in extremely slippery conditions at Darwin’s TIO Stadium.
Missing a host of key players in the loss to the Suns, the Cats could be bolstered by the return of stars Jeremy Cameron (concussion protocols) and Tom Hawkins (managed) for the clash with the GIANTS.
If Hawkins returns on Saturday, it’ll be a special affair at GMHBA Stadium, with the Cats veteran set to break the club’s all-time games played record with his 356th game.
Recent History
The GIANTS have won three of the last five clashes between the sides - and the last three played at GMHBA Stadium.
The most recent encounter saw the GIANTS celebrate Toby Greene’s 200th game with a gutsy 12.9 (81) to 10.14 (74) victory in Geelong.
Starring in his milestone match, Greene kicked four first-half goals to set up the win before Brent Daniels iced the game with a clutch late goal to register a famous victory.
In the prior meeting, in round eight 2022, the Cats smashed the GIANTS by 53 points at Manuka Oval.
Key Match-Up: Former Teammates to Foes
Traded to the Cats at the end of the 2020 season, Jeremy Cameron will face his former side and a host of his former teammates on Saturday if he’s cleared to play after missing last week with concussion following a head knock the week prior.
One of the competition’s premier players, Cameron is in line for a possible mouth-watering match-up with GIANTS star Sam Taylor.
GIANTS teammates for three years, two of the competition’s best players could go toe-to-toe on Saturday in one of the match-ups of the season.
Recently overcoming a concussion of his own, Taylor is experiencing another remarkable season for the GIANTS as he continues to build on his reputation as one of the game’s best defenders.
The GIANTS’ leading goalkicker for nine straight seasons from 2012-2020 before his move to Geelong, Cameron is also having another strong season for Geelong with 20 goals across his nine games.
Two stars that many consider the best in their position in the competition, a head-to-head battle between Taylor and Cameron is worth the price of admission alone on Saturday.
GIANTS Player to Watch
While by his own admission he’s not having the same high-level impact that we’ve come accustomed to seeing from last year’s All-Australian captain, Toby Greene showed signs that his best isn’t far off as he put in a strong performance against the Bulldogs last week.
Kicking three of the GIANTS’ six goals in the loss, Greene was back to finishing off his brilliant work around goals like has often been the case over the superstar’s stellar 13-year career to date.
Now with 14 goals from his nine games this year, the three-time All Australian and two-time Kevin Sheedy Medalist looks primed to help lead his side out of trouble in the clash with the Cats on Saturday.
In the Mix
The GIANTS will be forced into at least two changes for their clash with the Cats following injuries sustained to star defender Jack Buckley (calf) and exciting youngster Darcy Jones (hamstring) last week against the Bulldogs.
Athletic defender Leek Aleer will come into consideration for an AFL recall to cover the loss of Buckley if he is deemed fit to exit concussion protocols later this week following a knock two weeks ago in the VFL.
Meanwhile several GIANTS continue to perform well in the VFL to push their case for AFL selection against the Cats, with James Peatling, Toby McMullin, Harry Rowston and Max Gruzewski all having strong games last week.
Team Selection
The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Cats at 6:20pm on Thursday at gwsgiants.com.au.
Rehab Report
Get a full injury update ahead of Saturday’s match here.
Where to Watch
Saturday’s match will be shown live and free on 7mate from 4:30pm in Sydney and the ACT, as well as nationally on Fox Footy and Kayo from 4:30pm.
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