Can the GIANTS stop the league’s hottest team in a crucial clash in Canberra?
AFL - Round 17
GIANTS v Dockers
Saturday, July 4 at 1:35pm
Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka | Ngunnawal Country
What It Means for the GIANTS
The GIANTS need to get on a roll, and fast, if they’re to have a say in the pointy end of the 2026 season.
After brilliant wins over the Lions and the Demons back in rounds 11 and 12 the GIANTS have come off their round 13 bye with tough losses to the Saints, Blues, and most recently the Hawks at the MCG last Friday night.
While they ultimately fell to Hawthorn by 14 points it was a gutsy effort from the GIANTS who can take some positives out of the game, fighting hard until the final siren against the third-placed Hawks despite being two men down early in the second term after injuries to Max Gruzewski (knee) and Brent Daniels (calf).
While there’s no tougher task in football right now than taking down the Dockers - who have remarkably won 14 straight games - what a crucial win it would be from the GIANTS if they can defeat the all-conquering Fremantle and get their season back on track.
A key area the GIANTS must improve in if they’re to do the unthinkable on Saturday is address their issues around the ball and at least match it with the Dockers star-studded midfield, with Adam Kingsley’s side losing the clearance battle 54-30 against the Hawks last week - an outcome that can’t happen again if they’re to give themselves any chance of taking down the ladder leaders.
With tough games against the Cats and Swans also coming up in the next three weeks, a win for the GIANTS on Saturday is exactly what they need to remind everyone they’re not done with just yet in season 2026.
The Opposition
The footy world is almost running out of adjectives to describe the Dockers who sit two games clear on top of the ladder as they gun for their 15th straight win this weekend.
By the time Saturday rolls around it will have been 112 days since the Dockers last loss a game of footy, with their only defeat of the season a 10-point loss to the Cats in Geelong in their opening game of the season.
Winners of 14 straight since then, the Dockers continue to take all before them as they charge towards a finals campaign in search of the club’s elusive maiden premiership.
Justin Longmuir’s side will enter Saturday’s game coming off yet another dominant performance after holding the Suns to just three goals to register an emphatic 11.14 (80) to 3.11 (29) win at Optus Stadium last week.
While possessing a host of A-grade talent, a large key to the Dockers’ success continues to their ability to apply pressure and defend brilliantly, with their defiant backline leading the league for fewest points conceded by a long way so far this season.
With another win on Saturday the Dockers would get one step closer to cementing at the very least a top four spot as they look to continue to prove to be the team to beat in 2026.
Recent History
While the GIANTS have won two of the last three encounters between the sides, it the Fremantle who were victorious in their most recent meeting, claiming a 34-point win at ENGIE Stadium in round 10 last year.
Shai Bolton and Michael Frederick did the damage for the Dockers as they combined for six goals, while the GIANTS were led by Lachie Ash (29 disposals), Lachie Whitfield (25 disposals), and Finn Callaghan (24 disposals).
Meanwhile the sides have met just three times in Canberra, with the Dockers holding a 2-1 advantage in the nation’s capital.
The last time the sides met at Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka was in 2022 where the Dockers trailed by 11 at the half before lifting after the main break to register a 20-point win on the road.
Key Match Up: Tall Timber
A key to Saturday’s clash will be the output of the tall timber for both sides, particularly in the middle of the ground and the battle between the Dockers’ ruck duo of Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy against the GIANTS’ pairing of Kieren Briggs and Leek Aleer.
Jackson has taken his game to another level this season to stake his claim as arguably the best ruckman in the game and will certainly present a challenge to Briggs and Aleer as they look to slow him down.
Jackson’s ability to cover the ground and get involved in handball chains has seen him become an extra midfielder for the Dockers this year and both Briggs and Aleer will have to be at the very top of their game in order to limit the impact of the Fremantle star.
If the GIANTS can somehow contain Jackson - and capitalise in the middle when he rests or goes forward - it’ll go a long way to achieving a huge upset in Canberra.
GIANTS Player to Watch: Sam Taylor
Four games into his return from a long-term hamstring injury, Taylor is looking more and more like his old self as he reminds the footy world why he’s seen by many as the league’s best defender.
After another strong outing against the Hawks last week, Taylor will look to continue to return to his brilliant best on Saturday in what will be a crucial role locking down one of the Dockers’ three dangerous key forwards in Josh Treacy, Patrick Voss, and Jye Amiss.
The general of the GIANTS’ backline, Taylor will need to be at his All-Australian best on Saturday if the orange tsunami is to overcome the Dockers.
In The Mix:
The GIANTS will be forced into more changes this week following the unfortunate injuries to Daniels (calf) and Gruzewski (knee).
Three GIANTS could return to action in some capacity this week, with Jack Buckley (hamstring), Toby McMullin (hamstring), and Nick Madden (knee) all pushing to be cleared to play if they can get through Thursday’s main training session.
Meanwhile a host of GIANTS are performing well in the VFL and are ready to go if called upon, with the likes of Harry Rowston, James Leake, Jack Ough, Cody Angove, and Riley Hamilton all pressing their claims in recent weeks.
Team Selection:
The GIANTS will name their side on Thursday at 6:20pm at gwsgiants.com.au.
The VFL side will then be named at 5pm on Friday.
Rehab Report:
Get a full injury update ahead of Saturday’s match here.
