The Giants and Hawks will be looking for improved performances as they gather for their round 5 clash in Adelaide.

Match Details

• Who: GWS Giants vs Hawthorn Hawks
• When: Sunday 16 April, 3.20pm AEST
• Where: Norwood Oval, Adelaide
• Weather: max 18. 50% chance of rain, 0 to 1mm
• Click here to buy tickets
• All time head-to-head record: Played 11. Giants 5 wins. Hawks 6 wins.

Teams

Giants

IN: Aaron Cadman, James Peatling, Xavier O’Halloran

OUT: Brent Daniels (managed), Conor Stone (omitted), Harry Rowston (omitted),Jake Riccardi (omitted)

After some strong performances in the VFL, last year’s number one draft pick Aaron Cadman will make his AFL debut. Peatling and O’Halloran also return, with Daniels, Stone, Rowston and Riccardi making way.

Hawks

IN: Denver Grainger-Barras, Ned Long, Seamus Mitchell

OUT: Cam Mackenzie (managed), Finn Maginness (omitted), Jack Scrimshaw (injured), Will Day (suspension)

The Hawks will be without the talented Will Day after he copped a suspension for a sling tackle, while Scrimshaw is out with a toe problem. Grainger-Barras and Long will play their first game of the season while youngster Seamus Mitchell will make his AFL debut.

Click here to see the full line-ups.

Season so far

GWS Giants 15^th – 92.6% | 326 points for | 352 points against| 1 win & 3 losses

After a terrific first round win, the Giants have had a pretty disappointing three weeks and head into Gather Round desperate for a win.

Coach Adam Kingsley was scathing of his side’s hunt and contest work against the Bombers last week and delivered a withering spray to the group at three quarter-time.

It’s easy to see what Kingsley was talking about with the Giants losing the contested possession count 148-129 against the Bombers and 147-122 to Carlton the week before. In fact, the only time they have won the contested possession count was in their round one victory over Adelaide.

GWS have an extremely tough run of games after this (Lions, Swans, Dogs, Pies, Saints, Cats, Tigers), so they simply must get the job done against Hawthorn to build some confidence heading into that tough stretch.

Hawthorn Hawks 18^th – 52.8% | 227 points for | 430 points against | 1 win & 3 losses

The Hawks were many people’s pick for the wooden spoon so it’s not a huge surprise to see them languishing at the bottom of the ladder.

They are clearly rebuilding for the future and fans could be in a long season for fans given their three losses have been by a combined 222 points.

They did get a nice win over former coach Alistair Clarkson which would’ve felt particularly sweet for Sam Mitchell.

Given the results so far, Hawthorn clearly don’t have the squad to compete with some of the better teams going around, but they should at least be competitive against the other bottom sides.

Last 5 meetings

• 2022 round 16: Giants 11.6 (72) defeat Hawks 7.8 (50) at Giants Stadium
• 2021 round 15: Giants 11.6 (72) lost to Hawks 13.12 (90) at MCG
• 2020 round 5: Giants 13.5 (83) defeat Hawks 7.7 (49) at Giants Stadium
• 2019 round 21: Giants 4.5 (29) lost to Hawks 13.7 (85) at Manuka Oval
• 2019 round 8: Hawks 10.11 (71) defeat Giants 5.8 (38) at MCG

The Hawks have won three of the last five clashes, although the Giants claimed their only meeting by 22 points last year.

Unsurprisingly, this is the first meeting between the sides at Norwood Oval an they have never met at a neutral venue, unless you include Canberra and Tasmania which I don’t.

Pre-match predictions

Dream debut: Aaron Cadman to show why he went pick one with four goals. Giants by 28.

Ward off: Callan to get more disposals than his namesake Josh in the battle of the Wards’.

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