The GIANTS will look to tame the Tigers in an exciting clash as the club celebrates the diversity of Western Sydney in their Cultural Heritage Series game.
AFL Round 12
GIANTS v Tigers
Saturday, May 31 at 4:15pm
ENGIE Stadium | Wangal Country
What It Means For The GIANTS
The GIANTS (6-5) will be aiming to making it back-to-back wins on Saturday as they look to stay entrenched inside the top eight with a win over the Tigers at ENGIE Stadium.
After a blistering 4-1 start to the season the GIANTS hit an early-season lull across rounds 6-8 but have shown some of their best football in recent weeks to register important and impressive wins over the Cats in Geelong in round nine and then the Blues at Marvel Stadium last week.
Buoyed by skipper Toby Greene’s 250th game, the GIANTS continued to show that their best makes them a force to be reckoned with at any venue in the country, with the orange tsunami gaining momentum after half-time against the Blues to surge to a 28-point win on the road.
Sitting 8th in the middle of a log-jammed ladder, the GIANTS will hope to consolidate their spot in the top eight as they aim to tame a Tigers team who continue to show they’re no easy-beats with numerous impressive displays across the season despite their youth and inexperience.
As they search for their third win in four weeks, the GIANTS could welcome back some troops on Saturday, with vice-captain Josh Kelly (hip) and young midfielder Toby McMullin (adductor) both chances to return if they can get through Thursday’s main training session.
The Opposition
While the youthful Tigers (3-8) sit in 16th, they continue to play with immense energy and effort and will enter ENGIE Stadium confident that they can take down the GIANTS.
Filled with a host of young talent as the club transitions from its premiership years, the Tigers possess an enthusiastic young side led by a sprinkling of veterans who have shown they’re capable of pushing some of the league’s best sides to their limits.
While they’ve only registered two wins in their last six games heading into Saturday’s clash, the Tigers showed in round six exactly what they’re capable of as they stunned the third-placed Suns with an 11-point upset over the Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium.
While their ladder position suggests Saturday’s contest could be a foregone conclusion, there’s no writing off the young Tiger cubs who will have no fear on Saturday in their bid to take down the GIANTS.
Recent History
The visiting Tigers will enter ENGIE Stadium having won two of the last three meetings between the sides and with a 3-2 advantage in their last five matchups.
The most recent clash between the sides saw the GIANTS claim a 24-point win at the MCG in round 18 last year, while the prior meeting saw the Tigers claim an upset six-point win at Saturday’s venue of ENGIE Stadium.
Key Match Up: A Meeting With Some Old Friends
Saturday’s clash will see a pair of familiar faces return to ENGIE Stadium, with former GIANTS Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper set to take on their former side.
Both playing exactly 114 games for the GIANTS prior to joining the Tigers ahead of the 2023 season, Hopper and Taranto are two of Richmond’s most experienced and in-form players and their output will be key to whether the visitors can upset the GIANTS on Saturday.
The returning Tiger duo is likely to go head-to-head with former teammates Tom Green, Xavier O’Halloran and skipper Toby Greene who has spent more time on ball in recent weeks.
GIANTS Player To Watch: Callum Brown
Irishman Callum Brown continues to provide a dynamic mix to the GIANTS’ front half and will be looking to continue his rich vein of form against the Tigers on Saturday.
Up against the Tigers in the club’s Cultural Heritage Series clash – a game which celebrates the diverse cultures of our game and our community – Brown is a great example of the multicultural nature of Australian rules football.
A former up-and-coming Gaelic football star back in Ireland, Brown was identified by the GIANTS’ Irish scouting program in 2017 and since being signed by the club in October, 2018 has been a regular part of the club’s AFL side.
A hard matchup for opposition defenders with his rare blend of speed, size, and ability to impact both in the air and at ground level, Brown has kicked five goals over the last two weeks and will be hoping to continue his stellar form on Saturday as the GIANTS aim for back-to-back wins.
In The Mix
While Josh Kelly (hip) and Toby McMullin (adductor) are both pushing to return to the field this week, there are several others making claims for senior selection through strong showings in the club’s VFL clash with Port Melbourne last week.
Click here for a recap of last week’s VFL game.
Team Selection
The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Tigers 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 special Cultural Heritage Series clash with the Tigers will be shown live and free in NSW and the ACT on Channel 7mate on 7plus from 4pm, as well as live nationally on Foxy Footy and Kayo from 4pm.
