The Giants return to Canberra to take on their rivals, the Bulldogs, in a night match at Manuka Oval.

Match Details

• Who: GWS Giants vs Western Bulldogs
• When: Saturday 6 May, 7.30pm AEST
• Where: Manuka Oval, Canberra
• Weather: min 0, max 15. 30% chance of rain, 0 to 1mm
• Click here to buy tickets
• All time head-to-head record: Played 16. Giants 6 wins. Bulldogs 10 wins.

Teams

Giants

IN: Callan Ward

OUT: Harry Rowston (sub), James Peatling (omitted)

Veteran Ward returns from suspension with Peatling dropping out of the 22.

Bulldogs

IN: Ryan Gardner, Tom Liberatore

OUT: Lachlan McNeil (omitted), Tim O’Brien (injured), Toby McLean (sub)

The Dogs get a bit more grunt in the midfield with Liberatore returning, while Gardner will slot into the backline.

Click here to see the complete team line-ups.

Season so far

GWS Giants 12^th – 93.1% | 597 points for | 641 points against| 3 wins & 4 losses | WLLLW

The Giants showed again last week that they are a very competitive group, managing to hang in all game against Sydney before pinching the win right at the death.

It was no surprise to see Toby Greene kick the winning goal, with the Giants superstar showing his class all game with another stellar outing.

They’ve been up for the fight all season long and there’s no reason why GWS won’t fancy their chances of knocking over the Dogs in Canberra.

Western Bulldogs 10^th – 96.7% | 530 points for | 548 points against | 4 wins & 3 losses | WWLWW

After a slow start to the season, the Dogs have won four of their past five matches and are back in the finals picture.

They still look quite a ways off the absolute best teams so far this year, but if they can keep banking wins, they’ll give themselves a chance to grow into the season.

As great as Greene has been for GWS, Marcus Bontempelli has been even better for the Dogs and if one man can carry a side to finals, it’s probably the Bont.

Last 5 meetings and Manuka Oval History

• 2022 round 22: Bulldogs 9.8 (62) defeated Giants 8.9 (57) at Marvel Stadium
• 2022 round 14: Giants 16.9 (105) lost to Bulldogs 19.11 (125) at Giants Stadium
• 2021 round 6: Giants 9.11 (65) lost to Bulldogs 15.14 (104) at Manuka Oval
• 2020 round 3: Bulldogs 8.9 (57) defeated Giants 4.9 (33) at Marvel Stadium
• 2019 Elimination Final: Giants 16.17 (113) defeated Bulldogs 8.7 (55) at Giants Stadium

These two clubs had a pretty fierce rivalry for a while, but it has been rather one sided lately with the Dogs winning the last four over the Giants.

They met twice last year with the Dogs winning both contests although they were competitive contests.

These two sides have played at Manuka three times before with the Giants holding a 2-1 advantage, although the Bulldogs won the last clash there in 2021.

Pre-match predictions

Hometown hero: Canberra boy Tom Green to have 30 touches and a goal back in front of his home crowd. Giants by 10.

Master Baker: Oscar Baker to kick two goals for the Doggies.

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