The GIANTS and the Pies will take centre stage in a Friday night blockbuster at Marvel Stadium.
Round 3
Magpies vs GIANTS
Friday, March 27 at 7.40pm
Marvel Stadium | Wurundjeri Country
What it Means for the GIANTS
After two disappointing losses the GIANTS have one last chance to get back on the winners’ list and split their first four games 2-2 before heading into the bye.
The GIANTS recovered from a lacklustre start to play some strong footy against St Kilda in the second half last weekend, but wasted some third quarter scoring chances before falling just short in what became a tense final quarter.
Lachie Ash ran himself into the ground, Ryan Angwin did likewise, Phoenix Gothard had some lively second half moments and Harvey Thomas was clean and smart, with the midfield much stronger after half-time.
The GIANTS will be looking for the sort of energetic start that set up their Opening Round win over Hawthorn.
The Opposition
The Pies enjoyed their break over the weekend, after starting their season with an Opening Round win over St Kilda and dropping their second match to Adelaide.
The Crows had the better of the midfield battle in that game, while Darcy Fogarty, Riley Thilthorpe and Taylor Walker proved too much for their undersized defence to handle. Nick Daicos and Dan Houston were the most prominent Pies, with small forwards Jamie Elliott and Lachie Shultz scoring two goals each in the 14-point defeat.
Help could be coming in the form of Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe, with the experienced defensive duo both looking to return from injury for their first games of the season in Friday’s big clash at Marvel Stadium.
Recent History
The GIANTS and Pies have played just twice since the heartbreaking 2023 Preliminary Final, with the GIANTS winning both Opening Round clashes comfortably.
The clubs have barely ever played more than once each season, but have a fairly even record stretching back to 2019. Collingwood won three games in a row from 2022 through 2023, while the GIANTS claimed four consecutive wins from 2019 through 2021.
A curious fact: Round 22, 2014 was the last time Collingwood fielded a side not featuring a former GIANT, with Will Hoskin-Elliott, Taylor Adams, Adam Treloar, Bobby Hill and, most recently, Harry Perryman, moving from the GIANTS to the Pies over the last decade.
A young Lachlan Keeffe lined up in black and white at the MCG that day.
Key Match Up: The Backs
The GIANTS have not often had to play without Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley, but that is the task facing the backline group against the Pies on Friday night.
Collingwood has not really scored through their tall targets in their first two games, with Dan McStay scoring one goal in their Opening Round win and recruit Jack Buller yet to hit the scoreboard in his first two games for the club.
Tim Membrey kicked one against the Crows after three missed shots in Opening Round, but their scoring has been dominated by their small and medium types. Jordan De Goey started well, kicking three goals against the Saints, while Beau McCreery has hit the scoreboard in both games playing as a mid-forward. Elliott and Shulz have also kicked goals in both games.
Harry Himmelberg and Connor Idun have the capacity to play ‘tall’ if required, with Joe Fonti’s athleticism enabling him to take on all types. Leek Aleer has a couple of VFL games under his belt after his pre-season injury, while James Leake has found himself just outside the team for the first three games and will add even more flexibility down back if he is the one called up.
GIANTS Player to Watch: Ryan Angwin
Angwin has quietly established himself as one of the GIANTS’ most reliable players in the last little while, to the point he was trusted to trail Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera during last week’s game.
Held back by niggling injuries for most of his first five seasons, Angwin grabbed his spot in the back half of 2025 and has made an even more consistent start to 2026.
The 23-year-old is reliable, competitive, tough, composed, trusted by his teammates and has put his running power to great use while claiming his spot on the wing.
In The Mix:
The troops are on their way back. Bedford, Aaron Cadman and Brent Daniels are closing in on their return from injury, be it this Friday night or after the bye.
The bad news is that Jack Buckley will miss, after getting concussed in a last-second contest against the Saints.
The VFL team now has a game under its belt, giving James Leake and Leek Aleer the chance to put their hand up for Buckley’s spot in the backline.
Ollie Hannaford was brilliant on the weekend, kicking three goals in a 31-possession game that showed off his speed and urgency.
Jack Ough was also excellent, picking up where he left off after shoulder surgery last season and finding a stack of the ball through the middle.
Team Selection:
The GIANTS will name their team to take on the Magpies on Thursday at 6:20pm at gwsgiants.com.au.
Rehab Report:
Get a full injury update ahead of Friday’s match here.
