With their finals hopes on the line, Greater Western Sydney face a do-or-die test against Essendon in the AFL’s round 23.
The 10th-placed GWS welcome the Bombers to Giants Stadium on Saturday as they battle for their first finals appearance since 2021.
Coach Adam Kingsley expects a tough game against opponents facing a similar finals challenge.
Essendon sit ninth on the tightly contested ladder – one place above GWS and, like their rivals on Saturday, outside the top eight only by percentage.
“It is essentially an elimination final – we’re just starting two weeks early,” first-year senior coach Kingsley said.
“We’ve played in a lot of tight games, a lot of finals-type games, in that we’ve been having to come from behind to win.
“This game against Essendon will be no different.”
Securing a win for forward Daniel Lloyd after his surprise retirement announcement on Thursday adds a bonus incentive for Kingsley’s men.
Late-bloomer Lloyd, 31, has played 96 games for GWS and will call time on his AFL career at the end of the season.
“He ultimately made a decision around family and where the next phase of his life was going,” Kingsley said.
“It did catch a few people by surprise but he’s been a great servant of our footy club, we love him as a teammate and as a player.
“Hopefully, we can extend the season for as long as possible for him.”
With pressure forwards Toby Bedford and Brent Daniels back in the side from a one-match rough-conduct suspension, the Giants are hoping to return to the form that brought them a club high seven-game winning streak from early June to late July.
That run has been ended by two consecutive losses, including last Sunday’s 51-point defeat to premiership contenders Port Adelaide.
Gun forward Jake Stringer (foot) and ruck Sam Draper (hip) are expected to return for the Bombers.
A ruckman duel is all but certain with Draper’s imminent return but Kingsley has no doubt up-and-coming Giants star Kieren Briggs will rise to the challenge.
Briggs has made his mark on the competition in his third campaign, holding a season average of 15 disposals and six clearances.
“It’s the nature of being a ruckman in this competition – you pretty much face either a gun ruckman or a duo that is big and strong,” Kingsley said.
“It’s a tough role to play for a full season. (Briggs) is finding that out but he’s certainly still competing really well.
“That’s really his trademark – he keeps competing.”
No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman may make a return to the side following a powerful performance in the VFL last weekend, when he scored 8.3 with 21 disposals and 12 marks.
Wingman Finn Callaghan, though, misses his third-straight game and is likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the season with an achilles injury.
