After a baptism of fire starting 2022 with one win from their first five games, Giants fans will be praying they can turn their AFL season around on Friday night when they host St Kilda in Canberra.

The Saints, conversely, have been answering the prayers of their long-suffering fanbase, playing great footy to start their season with four wins.

St Kilda will travel to the capital full of confidence after doing away with the Gold Coast Suns over the weekend, while the Giants will be hurting after their 67-point drubbing at the hands of 2021 premiers Melbourne.

Having made finals in six of the last seven AFL seasons, the Giants’ sluggish start sees them facing an uphill battle to maintain their phenomenal record of top-eight finishes.

Giants young gun Tanner Bruhn told Canberra Daily the focus is on putting together a four-quarter performance after fading in and out of their matches so far this season.

“It’s a huge game for us and we’re really looking to rectify our last couple of performances,” he said. “We know the Saints are in some good form so it will be tough.

“We’ve been in most of the five games for a good half of the game, and three quarters; the biggest thing this week is putting a full four-quarter performance in, it will go a long way.”

Having made his Manuka Oval debut last season as a medical sub in their 39-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, Bruhn is keen to record a win at the Giants’ second home ground.

“It is our second home, Canberra. We always love travelling down and playing in front of our fans, we’ve got a really good support base and we’re all really excited to get down there,” he said.

AFL a ‘massive step’ for Bruhn after disrupted 2020

The 19-year-old midfielder was recruited by the Giants from his hometown of Geelong at pick 12 in the 2020 AFL Draft.

After a heavily disrupted year of under 18s in 2020 and then a chaotic first season of AFL football that saw him spend half the year in a hub, Bruhn said he now feels settled in and is loving the Sydney lifestyle.

“Last couple of years being in AFL system, I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said, “I’ve loved coming into the club, seeing the boys every day.

“Last year in the hub was tricky at times but I loved it, it gave us young boys an opportunity to build some relationships around the club.

Having not played much football in his final year of juniors due to COVID-19, Bruhn said the jump to AFL level was a “massive step” but is grateful for all the support he’s had from the coaching staff and senior playing group.

“There are some really great people at the club who have helped us young boys,” he said.

“It starts at the top with Leon (Cameron, Giants head coach), he’s just so great for the footy club … He’s very approachable, such a great person, and has got some good relationships with the boys.”

“Then my line coaches, Amon Buchanan, Mark McVeigh, and playing a bit forward Steve Johnson, who are all constantly helping us young boys improve.”

Having played four of five games so far in his second year of AFL football, Bruhn goals for the season is to play as consistently and frequently as possible.

“I’m just trying to play as many games as I can this year and be as consistent as possible, and I feel like the rest will come,” he said, “I’m really excited and love where the club is at at the moment.”

The Giants play St Kilda at Manuka Oval Friday 22 April 7.50pm; ticketek.com.au