Match day guide and preview for the AFL Round 22 game between the Giants and Tigers in Melbourne.
Who, when and where?
GWS Giants vs Richmond Tigers
Friday 13 August 2021 at 7.50pm (AEST)
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
All time head-to-head record: Played 15. Giants 5 wins. Power 10 wins.
Ladder position and recent form
GWS Giants 8th – 96.4% | 1573 points for |1631 points against | 9 wins, 10 losses & 1 draw | WLWLL
An undermanned Giants side pulled off one of the club’s great wins last week, downing the Cats in Geelong.
Nobody gave them a shot against the flag-favourite Cats, but a complete team effort and youthful exuberance did the trick as the Giants gave their finals chances a massive boost.
The youthful GWS side have been up and down all season, but they have put themselves in a strong position to play finals footy.
Richmond Tigers 10th – 100.1% | 1593 points for | 1591 points against | 9 wins & 11 losses | WLLWL
It looked like the Tigers season was finished when they were trailing the Kangaroos by 20 points at half time last week, but a 11 goal to 3 second half kept their finals hopes alive.
They need to win their remaining two matches against GWS and Hawthorn to play finals, but that won’t be so simple for a side that has won just two of their past eight matches.
Team selection
Giants
IN: Adam Kennedy, Daniel Lloyd, Jacob Hopper, Jesse Hogan, Josh Kelly, Shane Mumford
OUT: Toby Greene (suspended), Brent Daniels (injured), Callum M. Brown (injured), Jake Riccardi (omitted), Kieren Briggs (omitted), Matt Buntine (injured), Nick Shipley (medi-sub)
GWS have made a host of changes and lose their best player in Greene after they failed in their bid to overturn his one-match suspension.
However, they have got some quality back with the newly re-signed Kelly coming back in while Hopper and Mumford are among their most important players.
Tigers
IN:
OUT: Jason Castagna (medi-sub)
Click here to view final teams.
Players to watch
Giants – Lachie Whitfield
Whitfield has been brilliant since coming back from concussion in round 19, averaging over 31 disposals over the last three weeks.
The Giants love getting the ball in his hands as he’s an elite kick with both his left and right boot and he’s got an enormous tank which makes him difficult to shut down.
Without Greene, the Giants need their other stars to step up so look for Whitfield to step up in this crunch match.
Tigers – Tom Lynch
Lynch has come under criticism from AFL great Jonathan Brown recently for underperforming recently and it’s hard to argue with the former Lion.
Lynch is averaging just 10 disposals and one goal per game over the last four weeks as the Tigers scrap to make finals.
He’s a player that’s copped his fair share of criticism before and always seems to respond well, so don’t be surprised if he stamps his authority on this game.
Last 5 meetings
- 2021 Round 9 – Tigers 13.9 (87) defeat Giants 12.11 (83) at Marvel Stadium
- 2020 Round 8 – Giants 9.8 (62) defeat Tigers 6.14 (50) at Giants Stadium
- 2019 Grand Final – Tigers 17.12 (114) defeat Giants 3.7 (25) at MCG
- 2019 Round 17 – Tigers 13.16 (94) defeat Giants 9.13 (67) at MCG
- 2019 Round 3 – Giants 19.11 (125) defeated Tigers 10.16 (76) at Giants Stadium
The Tigers got the better of GWS in their first meeting this season, but it was a cracking game that went right down to the wire.
The home side has won each of the past five matches, but it’s hard to know who is the real home team in this match. The Giants are the listed home side, but the game will be played in Melbourne in front of no crowd.
Pre match predictions
Taylor made: Sam Taylor to back up his brilliant game last week with at least 10 marks and 20 disposals.
Short Stack: Jayden Short and Sydney Stack to combine for 50 disposals and a goal.
