Match day guide and preview for the AFL Round 11 game between the Lions and Giants.
Who, when and where?
Brisbane Lions vs GWS Giants
Saturday 29 May 2021 at 2.10pm (AEST)
Gabba, Brisbane, QLD
All time head-to-head record: Played 11. Giants 7 wins. Lions 4 wins.
Ladder position and recent form
GWS Giants 8th – 98% | 724 points for |739 points against | 5 wins & 5 losses | WLWWL
The Giants have been super competitive all season and now find themselves in the top 8 after a solid win over the Eagles.
Their midfield has been in outstanding form with the likes of Tom Green, Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto, Callan Ward and Josh Kelly all in great touch.
Despite playing a solid month of footy, this will be the Giants biggest test since the Bulldogs in Round 6, so they will have to be at their absolute best to win.
Brisbane Lions 4th – 127.6% | 920 points for | 721 points against | 7 wins & 3 losses | WWWWW
The Lions come into this on a six-match win streak and are the form team in the AFL right now.
They were far too good for a depleted Tigers side last week with their midfield dominating the contest.
Their only loss at home came all the way back in Round 1 against the Swans but they have since peeled off four straight at the Gabba which is becoming a fortress once again.
Players to watch
Giants – Jacob Hopper
Hopper is having an outstanding season for the Giants as part of an in-form midfield group.
According to the AFL website stats, he is rated above average for disposals (27 per game), clearances (6.3) and elite for contested possessions (13.6) which are key areas for any inside mid.
He is in outstanding form with 35 disposals and a goal against the Tigers two weeks ago followed by a 28 possession game last week.
Lions – Zac Bailey
Bailey is having his best year in the AFL and is coming off a brilliant four-goal performance against the Tigers last week.
The 21-year-old has shown he is dangerous around goals playing as a forward but can also have an impact in the midfield.
He is averaging 1.2 goals, 17.2 disposals and 2.5 clearances per game, highlighting his ability to play both roles effectively.
Last 5 meetings and The Gabba history
- 2020 Round 7 – Giants 10.8 (61) defeated by Lions 13.10 (88) at Giants Stadium
- 2019 Semi Final – Lions 11.14 (80) defeated by Giants 12.11 (83) at The Gabba
- 2019 Round 16 – Giants 11.8 (74) defeated by Lions 14.10 (94) at Giants Stadium
- 2018 Round 14 – Lions 12.10 (82) defeated by Giants 16.13 (109) at The Gabba
- 2018 Round 6 – Giants 10.17 (77) defeat Lions 5.13 (43) at Giants Stadium
The Giants hold a 3-2 record over the past five matches, but the interesting stat is that the away side has won the last four straight.
The most memorable match between the sides was the Semi Final in 2019 when the Giants upset the Lions in Brisbane thanks to a late Brent Daniels goal.
The Giants won’t hold any fears heading up to Brisbane as they enjoy a good record against the Lions at the Gabba. GWS have won five of the seven matchups at the venue, including their last five straight. In fact, the Lions haven’t beaten the Giants in Brisbane since Round 21 2013, the Giants second year in the AFL.
Ins and outs
The Giants have suffered another injury blow, this time to young defender Sam Taylor who will miss 8 weeks with an ankle injury.
Their key defensive stocks are already low with Phil Davis and Lachie Keefe out. Fortunately, Jack Buckley looks set to line up after also hurting his ankle and will likely take one of the Lions key forwards in Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood and Daniel McStay.
Luckless ruckman Braydon Preuss was expected to return via the VFL this weekend but instead will be sidelined for another 3-5 months with a right pectoral injury suffered in the gym.
UPDATE: The Giants made just one change with last week’s medical sub Xavier O’Halloran in for the injured Sam Taylor.
The Lions are missing a few best 22 players with Brownlow Medalist Lachie Neale the main one out.
Ryan Lester and Jarrod Berry both ran at training and are nearing a return but may not be right for this game.
Given how well they played last week, the Lions would be more than happy to go in unchanged.
UPDATE: The Lions made no changes.
Click here to view the full teams.
Sir Doug Nicholls Round
Sir Dough Nicholls Round will be played across rounds 11 and 12 and will celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and contribution to Australian Rules Football.
The Giants will wear the Indigenous jumper designed by Whadjuk-Ballardong Noongar man Bobby Hill. The design is titled Bobby’s Giant Journey and tells the story from his upbringing in Northam, WA to moving to Sydney.
Pre match predictions
The Sprouler: The man who gave himself a Gatorade shower after his first win, Zach ‘The Sprouler’ Sproule to star up forward with three goals.
Brilliant Bobby: Wearing the Indigenous jersey he designed, Bobby Hill to contribute two goals and a mark of the year contender.
Other match details
Saturday’s match will be shown live on 7mate in the ACT and NSW and Foxtel Channel 503 and Kayo nationally from 2pm.
The Giants take on the Lions in round seven of the VFL on Saturday at Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex at 10:05am. The match will be broadcast on Kayo Freebies.
Click here for more match day information.
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