Where and When: Saturday, May 1 at 2.10pm AEST, Adelaide Oval
Last time they met: It was not a good day. It was a pretty bad one, in fact. The GIANTS flew in on a day trip from their Queensland hub with the finals still in sight despite and up-and-down season. But the Crows notched just their second victory for the season under new coach Matthew Nicks, their two-goal win in round 16 meaning the bruised, battered and out-of-form GIANTS needed to win both for their last two games to sneak into the finals. The Crows set up the win by dominating the first quarter clearances, and were able to keep the GIANTS at bay from there for most of the night. Rory Laird’s contest work was a problem all night, with Brad and Matt Crouch as well as Rory Sloane also busy for the Crows. Elliott Himmelberg and Shane McAdam proved a handful up forward, kicking two goals each, and Reilly O’Brien was an even bigger headache for the GIANTS, dominating in the ruck. Highlights on a rough night for the GIANTS included Bobby Hill’s spectacular high mark, and his even more special goal from the pocket. Tim Taranto worked hard around the ball, while Lachie Whitfield played his heart out as per usual.
Where to watch: https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-premiership
What it means for the GIANTS: After two strong wins over Collingwood and Sydney the GIANTS were competitive once again against the Bulldogs, trailing by just three points at three-quarter-time before being overrun by the top-of-the-ladder team in the last half-hour. Wins, wins and more wins are needed to keep a top eight spot in sight.
Where’s the opposition at: The Crows have made a strong start to the season. In their second season under Nicks they have won three of their first six games to sit in ninth spot on the ladder. They would have been seventh had they not conceded a 32-point lead to lose by three points to Hawthorn in Launceston. Taylor Walker has turned back time this year to be his side’s leading goalkicker, while 200cm forward Riley Thilthorpe made a dazzling debut alongside him against the Hawks, kicking five goals.
The number: 3. Matthew Flynn, Tanner Bruhn and Conor Stone have all played their first game for the GIANTS over the first six weeks of season 2021. Could key forward Jesse Hogan become No. 4 against the Crows? Having overcome a quad injury late in the preseason and built some strong VFL form in the last two weeks, he is a very strong chance to play his first game for his third club, after stints at Melbourne and Fremantle.
In the mix: Hogan has recovered from his quad injury late in the preseason and after a couple of strong performances in the VFL side is ready to make his way into the team. The question is who makes way for him, and how the forward line will be set up. Nick Haynes must be replaced, with the new life member to miss 2-4 weeks with a hamstring strain. Sam Reid (hamstring) may be ready to return, while Xavier O'Halloran (shoulder) will be tested later this week. The Matthew Flynn/Shane Mumford debate will be had once more while - in some very, very good news - Lachie Whitfield is ready to play his first football for the year, 12 weeks after suffering serious liver damage on the training track.
