Match day guide and preview for the AFL Round 19 game between the Giants and Bombers on the Gold Coast.
Who, when and where?
Essendon Bombers vs GWS Giants
Sunday 25 July 2021 at 6.10pm (AEST)
Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast, QLD.
All time head-to-head record: Played 12. Giants 6 wins. Bombers 6 wins.
Ladder position and recent form
GWS Giants 12th – 95.5% | 1350 points for |1413 points against | 7 wins, 9 losses & 1 draw | LLWLW
The Giants dropped out of the eight after losing to the Swans in a chaotic Sydney derby on the Gold Coast last week.
The Giants lost their best player in Toby Greene just an hour before the opening bounce but still made a fast start before the Swans powered over the top of them.
They’ve squandered a few opportunities to make a finals spot their own over the last month, so this clash on Sunday shapes as their most important game of the year.
Essendon Bombers 8th – 104.5% | 1501 points for | 1437 points against | 8 wins & 9 losses | WWLLW
After a slow start to the season, the Bombers have emerged as one of the surprise packets of the season and now find themselves in the eight.
Their 3-2 record over the last five matches may be a little deceiving with the wins against the Hawks (17th), Crows (16th) and Kangaroos (18th), while their two losses were against the Demons (1st) and Cats (3rd).
The race for that last spot in the eight is incredibly tight, so expect the Bombers and Giants to throw absolutely everything they have at each other.
Team selection
Giants
IN: Lachie Ash, Lachie Whitfield, Shane Mumford
OUT: Matt Flynn (injured), Jeremy Finlayson (omitted), Stephen Coniglio (injured), Zach Sproule (medi-sub)
Whitfield is a huge inclusion for the Giants who missed his elite run and skills last week. Ash earns a reprieve after being dropped while Mumford returns after his usual rest week.
Coniglio is a late withdrawal after pulling up sore from his first game back last week. Josh Kelly will captain the Giants in his 150th game.
Bombers
IN: David Zaharakis, Dylan Shiel
OUT: Alex Waterman (omitted), Martin Gleeson (medi-sub), Matt Guelfi (omitted)
Former Giant Shiel returns for just his third game of the season after recovering from a knee injury while veteran Zaharakis gets another crack in the AFL.
Click here to view final teams.
Players to watch
Giants – Shane ‘Mummy’ Mumford
The big Mummy may not be the player he was, but he is still a vital member of this Giants side when he’s playing.
They have won 6, lost 2 and drawn 1 in his 9 matches so far this season and are just 1-7 without him in the side.
He doesn’t rack up big numbers but his physicality around the contest is so important for his side and you can see his teammates lift when he’s playing.
Bombers – Jake Stringer
Stringer his having his best year in the red and black and was recently rewarded with a new three-year deal to stay at the club.
He has emerged as a real match winner this season and was the difference in the game last week against the Roos.
He had 17 possessions and booted four goals in the win and is starting to play with more consistency than we’ve seen from him previously.
He’s got the ability to hit the scoreboard in crucial moments but can also go into the midfield and cause issues with his power around stoppages.
Last 5 meetings
- 2021 Round 8 – Giants 16.11 (107) defeat Bombers16.9 (105) at Giants Stadium
- 2020 Round 10 – Bombers8.7 (55) defeated by Giants 8.11 (59) at Metricon Stadium
- 2019 Round 15 – Bombers 12.5 (77) defeat Giants 10.11 (71) at Marvel Stadium
- 2019 Round 1 – Giants 16.16 (112) defeat Bombers5.10 (40) at Giants Stadium
- 2018 Round 10 – Giants 8.12 (60) defeated by Bombers 14.11 (95) at Giants Stadium
Both sides are creating a nice rivalry with the last three games all decided by a goal or less.
The game earlier this year was a ripper with the Giants holding off a late charge by the Bombers.
The recent record shows the teams are quite even so hopefully it’s another great contest.
Pre match predictions
Mummy’s Day: Shane Mumford to get off the nudie run and kick his first goal of the season.
On a string: Jake Stringer to continue his good form with 25 touches and two goals.
Click here for more match day information and COVID protocols.
