With plenty of familiar stars eager for a hit-out, and younger players eager to push their case at the top level, it’s sure to be a cracking contest at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday.

The Details 
GIANTS v Swans
Saturday, February 29 at 4.10pm AEDT
Blacktown International Sportspark
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au

The Game
There is never any love lost between the crosstown rivals, and while the GIANTS had the better of the Swans in their match simulation last weekend, they won’t be taking anything for granted heading into their first practice match.

There will be some noticeable changes on the field for both teams – although giving younger players a chance in pre-season games is nothing new, this will be further highlighted by the absence of nine senior players across both line-ups with the State of Origin for Bushfire Relief match taking place on Friday night.

The GIANTS are keen to build on a stellar 2019 season, while the Swans will be eager to begin their build back to finals after finishing 15th last year.

The New Faces
GIANTS fans will get a look at new ruck Sam Jacobs, who joined the club from Adelaide during the trade period, as he fronts up for his first game in GIANTS colours. The 201-gamer didn’t play in last Saturday’s match simulation between the two clubs, so there is plenty of interest around his first hit-out with the GIANTS midfield.

Draftees Lachie Ash (defender), Tom Green (midfielder), Tom Hutchesson and Jake Riccardi (both forwards) impressed in last weekend’s match simulation and are in the mix to pull on the GIANTS jumper for the Marsh Community Series clash. 

The State of Origin Six 
The GIANTS will be without six superstars against the Swans with the AFL’s charity State of Origin Match for Bushfire Relief taking place on Friday night.

Skipper Stephen Coniglio will fly the GIANTS flag in the All-Stars team, while Jeremy Cameron, Lachie Whitfield, Nick Haynes, Toby Greene and Josh Kelly will line up for the Vics.

While their presence will be missed on the field for the GIANTS, it opens the door for those pushing for a call-up to the senior team in 2020.

Midfield places will open up for the likes of Jackson Hately and Jye Caldwell, who both debuted in 2019, as well as first-year Green. There are also a few spots open up forward and in defence, so get ready for an exciting, different look for the GIANTS.

The Key Points

1. There may not be any premiership points on the line, but the GIANTS-Swans rivalry has no off switch. The GIANTS have had the better of the Swans in recent encounters, having won the past four matches dating back to the 2018 Elimination Final. The GIANTS ran out 22-point victors in the corresponding pre-season clash last year, in which now-skipper Stephen Coniglio racked up 35 disposals and Tim Taranto collected 33 possessions and laid seven tackles.

2. Keep an eye on 2019 Brett Kirk Medallists Taranto and Jacob Hopper. In what was a breakthrough year for the young midfielders – Taranto went on to claim the Kevin Sheedy Medal as the GIANTS’ club champion, while Hopper finished third in the count – both stood up and delivered against the crosstown rivals, seeing plenty of the footy. Across three encounters last season (including the pre-season match), Taranto averaged 30 disposals and seven tackles against the Swans, while Hopper had great returns of 33 and 26 disposals against the Swans after missing the pre-season clash.

3. Who does Phil Davis take? The Davis-Lance Franklin match-up has been the stuff of legend in recent years, but the Swans forward star missed both clashes against the GIANTS last year, and will have a delayed start to 2020 following knee surgery. Swan Sam Reid shapes as a potential opponent for Davis, but isn’t a certainty to play following an interrupted pre-season. Nick Blakey is another possibility. The 20-year-old kicked three goals for the Swans in the match simulation against the GIANTS last weekend. 

Who to Watch 
While several experienced GIANTS are away on State of Origin duties, there’s still plenty of GIANTS leaders who’ll take the field against the Swans. Davis will lead in defence, while leadership group member Matt de Boer will be eager to back up a breakthrough 2019 season. While he made headlines as a ruthless tagger, de Boer is also capable of doing plenty of damage playing forward of the footy.

How to Watch
The match will be broadcast live on Fox Footy, and can be streamed through Kayo or viewed on the AFL App or website with an AFL Live Pass subscription.