Venue: UTAS
Time: 1:45pm AEST
What it means
Hawthorn (5-7) has incredibly put a 0-5 start to the season behind it to now be in the finals mix on the back of an impressive four wins from its past five matches. The Hawks can be confident of continuing their hot streak when they face the Giants at their second home in Tasmania after winning their past three at the venue, including a narrow win over the Saints earlier this year.
Greater Western Sydney (7-4) carried winning form into the bye when defeating Geelong on its strangely favourable hunting ground at GMHBA Stadium. The Giants are still shouldering a hefty injury load but can ill-afford to let this game slip, with top-four sides Port Adelaide and Sydney to follow.
Game-shapers
Jai Newcombe had a slow start to the season, mirroring that of his side, but the 22-year-old has looked back to his best since the return of Will Day. The duo complement each other nicely, with Newcombe the master of winning the ball in close and his teammate full of class on the outside.
Sam Taylor made a statement when committing to the Giants long-term as the defender inked a new seven-year that will take him through to the end of the 2032 season. Taylor is arguably the key pillar for the Giants with his ability to take intercept marks or win one-on-one defensive contests that stop the opposition in their tracks and allow his own runners to attack.
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Substitutes
HAWKS: Breust
GWS: McMullin
Good game this, pity its being murdered by Kelli Underwood
Tom Green is overrated
And then finished off by an umpire at the end.
And by the umps! Last three kicks were not there with two Hawks players ducking and Green penalised for a legitimate bump on Sicily. Footy is not what it used to be.
Umpires are killing football. That decision down the ground was a disgrace and I don’t give a stuff what the AFL says about…