Match day guide and preview for the 2022 AFL round 23 game between the GWS Giants and Fremantle Dockers in Canberra.
Match details
- Who: GWS Giants vs Fremantle Dockers
- When: Saturday 20 August 2022, 1.45pm
- Where: Manuka Oval, Canberra
- Click here to buy tickets
- All time head-to-head record: Played 12. Giants 5 wins. Dockers 7 wins.
Teams
Giants
IN: James Peatling, Tim Taranto
OUT: Lachlan Keeffe (injured), Tanner Bruhn (injured), Xavier O’Halloran (medi-sub)
GWS regain Taranto and Peatling for their final game of the year, while Keeffe (groin) and Bruhn (concussion) are out with injuries.
Dockers
IN: Lloyd Meek, Nat Fyfe
OUT: Bailey Banfield (medi-sub), Darcy Tucker (omitted), Rory Lobb (injured)
The Dockers lose Lobb to an injury, but regain Fyfe who will likely spend most of his time up forward. Meek comes in to play the second ruck role, while Tucker has been dropped.
Season so far
GWS Giants 16th – 85% | 1562 points for | 1838 points against | 6 wins 15 losses | LWLLL
The Giants can move into 15th with a win and if Essendon lose, but either way they’ll finish in the bottom four for the first time since 2014 (16th)
It has been a hugely disappointing season for this proud club given they won a final last year and it’s been
With the best teams in the AFL moving towards a more free-flowing game style, GWS have struggled to move the ball all season, and sit third last for points scored.
It looks like being a huge off-season for GWS, with the club needing to find a coach and a number of players reportedly on the move, but they would love to finish the season off well at their second home.
Fremantle Dockers 6th – 116.4% | 1650 points for | 1417 points against | 14 wins 6 losses | WWLDL
The Dockers have been one of the better stories of the year and have improved dramatically on last year’s 11th place finish.
Freo have locked away a top six finish and can sneak into the top four if they win and Sydney or Collingwood lose.
They probably aren’t playing their best footy leading into finals, with two wins, two losses and a draw in the last five weeks, but they are still capable of a deep run into September.
There is plenty to play for in this one for the Dockers, with a win giving them a chance at a top four finish, while a loss would see them host the red-hot Tigers in an Elimination Final.
Last 5 meetings and Manuka Oval history
- 2022 round 4: Dockers 13.10 (88) defeat Giants 8.6 (54) at Optus Stadium
- 2021 round 2: Dockers 11.21 (87) defeat Giants 7.14 (56) at Optus Stadium
- 2020 round 14: Dockers 8.5 (53) defeated by Giants 14.7 (91) at Optus Stadium
- 2019 round 5: Giants 11.16 (82) defeated by Dockers 16.10 (106) at Manuka Oval
- 2018 round 4: Giants 11.16 (82) defeat Dockers 7.9 (51) at Spotless Stadium
The Dockers have won three of the last five clashes against the Giants, including the last two straight.
Freo were far too good for GWS in Perth earlier this season, running away with a comprehensive 34-point victory.
These two have met at Manuka Oval twice before, with the Giants winning the first contest in 2018, before Freo won the next clash the following year.
Pre match predictions
Mundy Magic at Manuka: David Mundy to have 25 touches and kick a goal in his final home and away AFL match.
Captain Cogs: Stephen Coniglio to have 30 disposals and kick two goals.
Have any pre match predictions of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
