A GIANT clash in Canberra

Neither team has yet registered a win, though this match remains an exciting prospect. While St Kilda lost narrowly to the highly fancied Tigers, they were overrun the previous week by the young Gold Coast Suns.

In an almost inverse situation, the GIANTS lost by a large margin to Port Adelaide, but performed competitively against the reigning premiers in Round 1.

When the two played at Etihad Stadium last season, the Saints marched away with a 20-goal win, but mere weeks ago the GIANTS were the victors when the two played a practice match in Canberra. St Kilda appeared to struggle with the hot and humid conditions, where the GIANTS thrived.

Given the limited success of both teams so far, they will be eager to notch up a win in a match that they can both reasonably expect to win.

Blazing GIANTS midfielder Dylan Shiel has stoked the fires of this already heated contest by anticipating that the young GIANTS will be able to “run (the Saints) off their legs”. Shiel has enjoyed some hot form of late, with an average of over 22 disposals per game this season.

The match will very much be a clash of young and old: the GIANTS have the youngest list in the league, with the bulk of its players under the age of 21, while St Kilda have the second oldest list, and is very much dependent on the likes of Lenny Hayes (33), Nick Riewoldt (30) and Leigh Montagna (29).

It is worth noting that the GIANTS’ maiden win came at Manuka Oval against Gold Coast in round seven last year. Meanwhile, St Kilda have not played at Manuka in over 10 years, and have a relatively patchy interstate record, winning only two out of six matches outside of Victoria last year.