Match day guide and preview for the 2022 AFL round 6 game between the GWS Giants and St Kilda Saints in Canberra.
Match details
Who: GWS Giants vs St Kilda Saints
When: Friday 22 April 2022, 7.50pm
Where: Manuka Oval ACT
Weather: Max 18 Min 5 with a 5% chance of rain
All time head-to-head record: Played 12. Giants 5 wins. Saints 6 wins. 1 draw.
Teams
Giants
IN: Toby Greene, Braydon Preuss, Isaac Cumming
OUT: Jake Riccardi (medi-sub), Jesse Hogan (managed), Matt de Boer (omitted), Xavier O’Halloran (omitted)
Greene is an enormous inclusion after serving his six-match suspension and boy do the Giants need him back and firing quickly. Pruess also returns from his suspension and bolsters the GWS ruck stocks against the in form Rowan Marshall, while Cumming is an important addition to the backline.
Saints
IN: Jimmy Webster
OUT: Jarrod Lienart (omitted), Ryan Byrnes (omitted)
Webster comes back in for the Saints with the unlucky Lienart making way.
Season so far
GWS Giants 14th – 73% | 355 points for | 486 points against | 1 win & 4 losses | LLWLL
The Giants are under heavy pressure after a disappointing 1-4 start to the season with coach Leon Cameron’s future already a talking point.
They were competitive early against the Demons, but Melbourne were far too good in the end, kicking 8 goals to 2 in the third quarter to put the game away.
GWS started last year in similar fashion before going on a run to make finals and this game shapes as a must win if they have any desire of playing finals in 2022.
St Kilda Saints 4th – 132.3% | 496 points for | 375 points against | 4 wins & 1 loss | WWWWL
After a disappointing opening round loss to Collingwood, the Saints have played some impressive footy on their way to four straight wins.
Led by 21-year-old Max King, the Saints forward line has looked incredibly dangerous with the likes of Tim Membrey, Jack Higgins and Jade Gresham all hitting the scoreboard.
It has been an exciting start for the Saints, but their next month against GWS, Port, Melbourne and Geelong will tell us if they are a genuine contender or not.
Key matchup
Tom Green vs Jack Steele
These boys show just how far AFL has come in Canberra over the last decade, with the two local talents now genuine stars of the competition.
A Belconnen Magpie junior, Steele has become one of the best players in the AFL over the last two years and has started 2022 in fine form.
The Saints skipper is averaging 28.6 disposals a game, 13 contested posseissions, 5.4 clearances and 6.6 tackles and more importantly, he is leading his team to wins.
He played a bit of a lone hand in the Saints midfield last year, but he is being well supported by Brad Crouch and Seb Ross, while the emergence of Jack Sinclair and the return of Jade Gresham have helped the Saints enormously.
A Marist junior, Green has elevated his game to the next level this season and is on track to challenge Steele as the best player from Canberra over the coming years.
The 21-year-old is averaging 29 disposals a game, 14 contested possessions, 6.6 clearances and 5.6 inside 50s.
His work at stoppages has been superb this season, but Green has also showed he is capable of going forward and kicking goals with 6 already this season.
These guys are both integral to their teams and absolutely thrive in the contest, so hopefully we see them matched up against each other plenty and can enjoy watching them get to work.
Last 5 meetings and Manuka Oval history
- 2021 round 1 – Giants 11.12 (78) defeated by Saints 13.8 (86) at Giants Stadium
- 2020 round 18 – Saints 12.10 (82) defeat Giants 3.12 (30) at Gabba
- 2019 round 7 – Giants 18.6 (114) defeat Saints10.10 (70) at Manuka Oval
- 2018 round 19 – Giants 13.8 (86) defeat Saints 8.13 (61) at Giants Stadium
- 2018 round 5 – Saints 10.13 (73) drew Giants 9.19 (73) at Marvel Stadium
It couldn’t be more even over the last five with both sides winning two, while they had a tense draw in 2018 where GWS kicked a woeful 9 goals and 19 behinds.
Their last clash went down to the wire in round one last year with the Saints toughing out a close win.
The sides have met just once at Manuka Oval with the Giants recording a comfortable 44-point victory in 2019.
Pre match predictions
King and his Butler: Max King and Dan Butler to combine for 7 goals and two goal assists.
Canberra’s real Green Machine: Tom Green to continue his “bad n’ mean” start to 2022 recording 25+ touches and 2+ goals. – Denholm Samaras
Other match details
Friday night’s match will be shown live on Channel 7, Fox Footy and Kayo nationally from 7.50pm.
This is the first of four Giants’ matches in Canberra this season, with the club to play the Geelong at Manuka on Saturday 7 May. They take on the Lions and Dockers later in the season with times and dates to be confirmed.
As part of the ANZAC Round celebrations the ADF Women’s Team will take on the NSW Police Women’s Team, the “Blue Heelers” from 4.00pm.
The Giants and Saints will open ANZAC Round with a remembrance ceremony before the first bounce.
