Match day guide and preview for the AFL Round 15 game between the Giants and Hawks.
Who, when and where?
GWS Giants vs Hawthorn Hawks
Sunday 27 June 2021 at 1.10pm (AEST)
MCG, Victoria.
*The match was originally scheduled at Giants Stadium but was moved due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney. Ticket sales are on hold until further notice.
All time head-to-head record: Played 9. Giants 4 wins. Hawks 5 wins.
Ladder position and recent form
GWS Giants 9th – 97.6% | 1078 points for |1105 points against | 6 wins, 6 losses & 1 draw | WDLWL
The Giants are coming off a comfortable 36-point victory over the Blues last weekend but have provided a mixed bag of performances recently.
They could only manage a draw against the last-placed Kangaroos the week before and were smashes by the Lions to the tune of 64-points before the bye.
They find themselves just half a game outside the finals and have a perfect opportunity to grab another win to keep the pressure on the top eight.
Hawthorn Hawks 17th – 79.4% | 942 points for | 1186 points against | 3 wins & 10 losses | LWLLL
The Hawks have found winning hard to come by this season, but their last two weeks have probably been their best all year.
They easily accounted for the Swans after their bye, before pushing the Bombers all the way last weekend.
They’re out of the finals race, but the Hawks are a competitive club and will be wanting to cause some upsets in the back half of the year.
Team selection
Giants
IN: Brent Daniels
OUT: Lachie Ash (medi-sub), Tom Green (omitted)
Brent Daniels returns from a hamstring injury at the expense of youngster Tom Green who has been dropped for the second time this season.
Hawks
In: Denver Grainger-Barras, James Worpel, Kyle Hartigan
OUT: Conor Nash (omitted), James Cousins (omitted), Jarman Impey (injured), Shaun Burgoyne (managed)
Last year’s pick six in the AFL draft, Grainger-Barras will make his AFL debut while Worpel and Hartigan come straight back into the starting side. Nash and Cousins have been dropped while Impey is out injured and veteran Burgoyne has been managed as he approaches the 400 game milestone.
View the full team line-ups here.
Players to watch
Giants – Jeremy Finlayson
Finlayson had his best game of the season last week against the Blues, kicking five goals and taking ten marks in a strong display up forward.
The Giants have been crying out for someone to support Toby Greene up forward and Finlayson is starting to look the man most likely.
He has struggled for consistency at times over his career so its important for Finlayson to back up his effort last week with another strong performance against the Hawks.
Hawks – Changkuoth ‘CJ’ Jiath
CJ is enjoying a breakout season and has quickly become a fan favourite with his dash from the backline.
He is now one of the most exciting players in the league and you can feel the crowd rise every time he tucks the ball under his arm and runs with it.
His teammates also get a huge lift when he goes on one of his trademark runs, so the Giants will need to do their best to stop him having an influence.
Last 5 meetings
- 2020 Round 5 – Giants 13.5 (83) defeat Hawks 7.7 (49) at Giants Stadium
- 2019 Round 21 – Giants 4.5 (29) defeated by Hawks 13.7 (85) at Manuka Oval
- 2019 Round 8 – Hawks 10.11 (71) defeat Giants 5.8 (38) at MCG
- 2018 Round 15 – Giants 13.17 (95) defeat Hawks 13.6 (84) at Giants Stadium
- 2017 Round 16 – Hawks 14.13 (97) drew Giants 15.7 (97) at University of Tasmania Stadium
It couldn’t be more evenly split over the past five encounters with both sides recording two wins along with a draw.
The Giants got the better of the Hawks last season with a 34-point win at home however, the Hawks won both matchups 2019, including a 56-point win in the snow in Canberra.
They have met three times at the MCG with the Hawks winning all three, including a massive 193-31 victory in their very first clash in 2012.
Pre match predictions
Red-hot Perry Perry: Harry Perryman to rack up 25 touches and 10 marks.
Jaeger bomb: Jaeger O’meara to have 30 touches and launch a long goal from outside 50.
Other match day information
Sunday’s match will be shown live on Channel 7 in the ACT and NSW. Also on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally from 1pm.
Gates open at 12.10pm
Anyone who has attended these venues must get tested and isolate immediately as per the Victorian Government’s direction.
Click here for more match day information.
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