The GWS Giants will be looking to get back on track when they take on a Carlton Blues side fresh off an impressive win over the reigning premiers.

Match details

• Who: GWS Giants vs Carlton Blues
• When: Saturday 1 April, 4.35pm
• Where: Giants Stadium, Sydney
• Weather: Max 21. 90% chance of rain, 1 to 9mm
• Click here to buy tickets
• All time head-to-head record: Played 14. Giants 9 wins. Blues 5 wins.

Teams

Giants

IN: Josh Kelly, Lachie Whitfield

OUT: Adam Kennedy (omitted), Conor Stone (sub), Jacob Wehr (injured)

GWS have received two big boosts with Kelly and Whitfield set to return. The luckless Wehr is set for a two-month stint on the sideline after breaking his scapula in a huge bump last week.

Blues

IN: George Hewett

OUT: Matthew Kennedy (injured), Lochie O’Brien (sub)

Hewett is a handy inclusion for the Blues and replaces the injured Kennedy in the midfield.

Click here for full line-ups.

Season so far

GWS Giants 10^th – 98.4% | 187 points for | 190 points against| 1 win & 1 loss

GWS followed up their resilient round one victory with a pretty disappointing loss to the Eagles in Perth last week.

The Giants actually won three quarters of that match, but were outscored 8.3 (51) to 2.1 (13) in a dreadful second quarter.

The round one clash was a grueling encounter the Giants, so perhaps there was some fatigue out of that contest, but they would still feel like they let a golden opportunity to go 2-0 slip.

GWS have struggled to put a four-quarter performance together this season, so Adam Kingsley will be looking for a more even effort across the game.

Carlton Blues 7^th – 105.7% | 148 points for | 140 points against | 1 wins, 0 losses & 1 draw

After a gripping draw with the Tigers in round one, the Blues got their first win of the season with an outstanding eight-point win over the Cats last week.

Charlie Curnow was the standout for Carlton, booting five goals in the victory and looks set to challenge Jeremy Cameron as the league’s best key forward this season.

Carlton were desperately unlucky to miss out on finals last season, but their performances so far indicate they’ve improved in 2023.

If this is the year Carlton are to break their finals drought, this is a game they should win.

Last 5 meetings and Giants Stadium history

• 2022 round 17: Blues 13.12 (90) defeat Giants 8.6 (54) at Marvel Stadium
• 2022 round 9: Giants 11.9 (75) lost to Blues 15.15 (105) at Giants Stadium
• 2021 round 23: Blues 11.9 (75) lost to Giants 12.17 (89) at Marvel Stadium
• 2021 round 14: Giants 16.6 (102) defeat Blues 9.12 (66) at Giants Stadium
• 2020 round 15: Giants 6.12 (48) defeat Blues 5.9 (39) at Metricon Stadium

Carlton broke a streak of five straight losses against GWS in round 9 last year and went onto beat them again in round 17.

The first meeting saw the Blues spoil Leon Cameron’s final game in charge of GWS, while Carlton were far too good in the second matchup as well.

The round 9 match was actually the Blues only victory against GWS in Sydney, with the Giants winning their first five clashes at Giants Stadium.

Pre match predictions

Easy being Green: Tom Green to make it look easy in the middle, racking up 30 touches and a goal.

Acres of space: Blake Acres to find plenty of ball on the wing, amassing 25 possessions and 2 goal assist. Blues by 20.

Have any pre match predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.