Where and when: Giants Stadium, Sunday, May 22, 2.10pm local (12:10pm AWST)
TV: Live on 7 (Perth), Fox Footy, Kayo and the AFL Live Official app.
Last time we met: Giants 13.15 (93) def. West Coast 11.11 (77) at Giants Stadium, round 10, 2021
It was a tense battle at Giants Stadium as the Eagles trailed by just four points at the final break, but a unrelenting Giants outfit took advantage of their opportunities late and finished with a 16-point victory on home soil. A courageous final attempt by Josh Kennedy to save the game was unsuccessful, with the ball veering to the right and rolling through the point post, as the Giants’ Bobby Hill put the foot to throat with two unanswered goals in the dying minutes of the match.
What is means for the Eagles: West Coast is sitting 1-8 after an unprecedented run of injuries and COVID absences for key personnel, but the Eagles are set to include some arsenal with skipper Luke Shuey and prolific wingman Andrew Gaff returning to play. After a number of heavy losses, the Eagles are hoping to bounce back and snare a second victory of the season against the Giants, led by caretaker coach Mark McVeigh in his first match. Energised by youth – including onballer Connor West and developing ruckman Callum Jamieson – West Coast are hopeful their enthusiastic, albeit green, squad can get the job done against the 15th-placed Giants.
The stat: While West Coast won contested possessions (134 – 135) last time, they must look to match the Giants in clearances (41 – 33), tackles (79 – 46) and marks (121 – 72) after being convincingly beaten in these areas around the ground.
The match-up: Toby Greene v Jackson Nelson
Nelson’s tagging role will take new heights this weekend, looking set to take on one of the competition’s feistiest and unpredictable players in Greene. Both sitting around the same age bracket, weight, and height, the match-up on paper looks evenly spread, with Greene just slightly more experienced in games played. The tough, no-nonsense defender in Nelson looks set to challenge Greene across the half-back line and midfield if needed, and could be important in halting the crafty forward’s overall effect on the game.
It’s a big week for: Luke Shuey
The skipper returns for a clash in the east after being sidelined with a hamstring niggle over the last fortnight. After collecting 28 disposals and laying six tackles in round seven, the luckless Eagle was hit with another injury setback and handed the captain’s reins to Jeremy McGovern in the past couple of weeks. Now ready to return to the onball brigade, expect the captain back in some red-hot form as he leads the side out in round 10.
Big call: Shuey best afield on return game with 30+ disposals and 10+ clearances.
