Match day guide and preview for the 2022 AFL round 18 game between the GWS Giants and Brisbane Lions in Canberra.
Match details
Who: GWS Giants vs Brisbane Lions
When: Saturday 16 July 2022, 1.45pm
Where: Manuka Oval, Canberra
Weather: Min -3 Max 10, chance of rain 10%
All time head-to-head record: Played 13. Giants 7 wins. Lions 6 wins.
Teams
Giants
IN: Connor Idun, Jacob Hopper, Jake Riccardi
OUT: Adam Kennedy (injured), Callum M. Brown (omitted), Lachie Whitfield (injured), Phil Davis (injured)
The Giants receive a big boost with Hopper to play his first game since round one, while Idun and Riccardi also return. Whitfield and Kennedy are out injured, while Davis may have played his last AFL game after a serious hamstring injury last week.
Lions
IN: Callum Ah Chee, Daniel McStay, Darcy Gardiner, Harris Andrews, Keidean Coleman, Noah Answerth
OUT: Carter Michael (omitted), James Madden (omitted), James Tunstill (omitted), Marcus Adams (injured), Oscar McInerney (HS Protocol), Ryan Lester (omitted), Tom Fullarton (omitted)
Brisbane have made a host of changes with a number of key players returning from COVID protocols. Their defence looks far more assured this week with Andrews, Gardiner, Coleman and Answerth all back.
Season so far
GWS Giants 13th – 89.4% | 1257 points for | 1406 points against | 5 wins 11 losses | LWLLW
The Giants have scored quite well since Mark McVeigh took over as coach, but really struggled against Port last week, kicking just 3.11 from just 37 inside 50s.
They struggled right across the park and their midfield was well beaten in both clearances (37-26) and contested possessions (134-113).
The Giants would love nothing more than an emphatic response to that poor performance and claim an upset win at their second home ground in Canberra.
Brisbane Lions 4th – 124% | 1589 points for | 1281 points against | 11 wins 5 losses | LWLWL
The Lions looked like a top two team winning eight of their first nine games but have lost four of their last seven since and are on the verge of dropping out of the top 4.
They had a huge contingent of their best 22 missing last week against the Bombers which probably cost them victory in the end.
A loss here would be a big dent in the Lions’ top 4 chances so expect them to come out firing.
Last 5 meetings
- 2022 round 11: Lions 16.14 (110) defeated Giants 15.6 (96) at Gabba
- 2021 round 11: Lions 19.15 (129) defeated Giants 10.5 (65) at Gabba
- 2020 round 7: Giants 1.8 (68) lost to Lions 13.10 (88) at Giants Stadium
- 2019 Semi Final: Lions 11.14 (80) lost to Giants 12.11 (83) at Gabba
- 2019 round 16: Giants 11.8 (74) lost to Lions 14.10 (94) at Giants Stadium
The Lions have a good recent record over the Giants having won four of their last five encounters, including an entertaining 14-point victory in Brisbane in round 11.
The Giants’ lone victory in those five games was an important one though, winning a tense Semi Final at the Gabba in 2019.
This will be the Lions first AFL game at Manuka Oval in the club’s history, while the Giants are playing their 29th match at the venue.
GWS have won 12 of their matches in Canberra but are currently on a five-match losing streak at Manuka Oval.
Pre match prediction
Hometown hero: Tom Green to kick two goals and have 25 touches back in his hometown of Canberra.
Gardiner tidies up: Darcy Gardiner to take four intercept marks down back for Brisbane.
The match will be shown live on the Channel 7 network in the ACT and NSW from 1.30pm. It will be on Foxtel nationally and is also available to stream on Kayo.
Have any pre match predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
