Preview 2025 1st Elimination Final - GWS Giants vs Hawthorn, 3.15pm Saturday 6 September, Engie Stadium

[Adam Giant]

I’d rather a 100% fit Thomas in a final over an 80% Kelly. I just don’t like risking injured guys in finals, and Kelly really has only had maybe one or two above average games since like round 6. Back the young bull.

You can have them both as it turns out. Rowston the unlucky one to miss.

 

[Orangeutan]

Notable that Thomas was dropped for both finals last year.
Pleasing to see him get a run this time - he'll stand up.

Damn good team.

 

[Giant Strides]

The GIANTS will welcome back three stars for Saturday’s cutthroat Elimination Final, with Jesse Hogan

23

Jesse Hogan

Age

30

Ht

196cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.0

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

5.7

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

10.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

4.3

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

0.0

1star

G

0.0

1star

D

13.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

, Jake Stringer

20

Jake Stringer

Age

31

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

4star

G

1.8

5star

D

8.5

2star

K

7.0

3star

HB

1.5

1star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

4star

G

2.5

5star

D

7.2

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.4

5star

, and Josh Kelly all returning from injury to take on the Hawks in week one of the 2025 Toyota AFL Finals Series.

Hogan will play his first game in a month in Saturday’s do-or-die final, with the reigning Coleman Medallist a welcome return to the side after proving his fitness following time out with foot soreness.

Stringer will join Hogan in attack on Saturday, with the dynamic forward set to play his first final in four years after overcoming a hamstring injury which saw him miss the final two games of the home and away season. Stringer will enter his first finals campaign for the GIANTS following a stellar run of form prior to his injury, with the 31-year-old kicking 14 goals in his last five games to play a key role in the club’s surge into finals.

Kelly is another huge addition for Saturday’s must-win meeting with the Hawks, with the vice-captain sure to add his trademark class and composure to Adam Kingsley

Adam Kingsley

Age

50

Ht

183cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.9

4star

K

11.5

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

16.4

4star

K

10.4

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

’s side after overcoming a calf injury which kept him sidelined for five weeks.

In further great news, fellow vice-captain Stephen Coniglio

3

Stephen Coniglio

Age

31

Ht

182cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.5

5star

K

13.0

5star

HB

11.5

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

4.7

5star

CL

4.7

5star

D

21.3

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

8.8

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.8

4star

CL

5.4

5star

D

19.2

5star

K

8.2

4star

HB

11.0

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.2

4star

CL

3.0

5star

will face the Hawks after successfully exiting concussion protocols.

Harry Rowston, Max Gruzewski, and Jacob Wehr are the three unlucky omissions from this week’s side.

Meanwhile, Brent Daniels

16

Brent Daniels

Age

26

Ht

172cm

Wt

75kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.9

4star

G

0.4

3star

D

10.3

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

6.0

3star

M

1.9

2star

T

1.9

3star

G

0.0

1star

D

9.0

3star

K

3.6

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

1.6

2star

T

3.0

5star

G

0.8

4star

and Jack Buckley were unavailable for selection due to injury.

 

[orange tsunami]

Hopefully Aleer doesn’t give me anxiety. Weddle back for Hawks which is annoying.

 

[Bjo187]

Gee I don't like dropping Rowston at all for this. There are only 3 centre square mids plus o'hallaran to run through the most important part of the ground? Hopefully they don't tire in a final. Then 3 wingers which is a position you can rotate anyone through. Rowston is also tough and would be a good finals player, it seems Kingsley still doesn't rate him for some reason, strange call.

 

[JC100]

Gee I don't like dropping Rowston at all for this. There are only 3 centre square mids plus o'hallaran to run through the most important part of the ground? Hopefully they don't tire in a final. Then 3 wingers which is a position you can rotate anyone through. Rowston is also tough and would be a good finals player, it seems Kingsley still doesn't rate him for some reason, strange call.

Thomas will be sub so won’t be 3 wingers in the 22. They also have Kelly to run through the middle if there is an injury and Thomas would come onto the wing. Also have the small forward that can rotate through.

Expect Hardwick will play forward and Weddle will slot into defence. Mids/defenders can on the bench so expect it will be Moore/hardwick forward. Thought they might leave Lewis in and try and stretch us with Buckley out.

Sit Bedford on impey and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tackle around the hips on their small forwards cause they will be flopping all over the place.

 

[Giant Pete]

Gee I don't like dropping Rowston at all for this. There are only 3 centre square mids plus o'hallaran to run through the most important part of the ground? Hopefully they don't tire in a final. Then 3 wingers which is a position you can rotate anyone through. Rowston is also tough and would be a good finals player, it seems Kingsley still doesn't rate him for some reason, strange call.

Running through midfield:
Green
Callaghan
Cogs
XOH
Jones
Greene
Stringer
Kelly

 

[Battlepants]

It would've been a hard choice between omitting Rowston or Thomas. Personally I would have kept Thomas in, I really like what he brings to the side.

I'm actually wondering if Stringer might still be starting as the sub. Thomas' real strength is his running and work rate. Over the course of the game he can really use that to open up space in attack and work back in defence. It really adds up over a whole match and I think that's the greatest strength that he brings to the side. If you start him as sub, you don't get that.

 

[Drummond]

It would've been a hard choice between omitting Rowston or Thomas. Personally I would have kept Thomas in, I really like what he brings to the side.

I'm actually wondering if Stringer might still be starting as the sub. Thomas' real strength is his running and work rate. Over the course of the game he can really use that to open up space in attack and work back in defence. It really adds up over a whole match and I think that's the greatest strength that he brings to the side. If you start him as sub, you don't get that.

I think Stinger will be sub too.

Aleer is the one who worries me. He can take great marks but has too many lapses. Huge concern. Who takes Gunston, probably Idun?

 

[JC100]

I think Stinger will be sub too.

Aleer is the one who worries me. He can take great marks but has too many lapses. Huge concern. Who takes Gunston, probably Idun?

If stringer plays as sub we have 3 wingers and 6 forwards which would mean Thomas plays forward - seems unlikely

 

[Drummond]

If stringer plays as sub we have 3 wingers and 6 forwards which would mean Thomas plays forward - seems unlikely

That’s a fair assessment. Kelly can play more in the centre if required, Thomas more forward, Angwin defence. There’s enough flexibility I think to start Stringer as sub.

 

[Colonial]

Hope so.

 

[Bjo187]

Running through midfield:
Green
Callaghan
Cogs
XOH
Jones
Greene
Stringer
Kelly

I think it's robbing Peter to pay Paul with 4 of those if you are forced to move them into the centre square in a final. They're forwards and wingers first.

 

[JC100]

I think it's robbing Peter to pay Paul with 4 of those if you are forced to move them into the centre square in a final. They're forwards and wingers first.

We play 4 main mids that rotate through. The other 4 will play wing/forward and will pinch hit in the middle.

 

[sydney_gws]

I think we will miss Rowston and Thomas.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Thomas will be sub so won’t be 3 wingers in the 22. They also have Kelly to run through the middle if there is an injury and Thomas would come onto the wing. Also have the small forward that can rotate through.

Expect Hardwick will play forward and Weddle will slot into defence. Mids/defenders can on the bench so expect it will be Moore/hardwick forward. Thought they might leave Lewis in and try and stretch us with Buckley out.

Sit Bedford on impey and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tackle around the hips on their small forwards cause they will be flopping all over the place.

Hardwick will be in defense. Weddle to float with the likes of Sicily as fwd options.

 

[HoraceStrasbork]

Peace brothers and sisters. Here’s hoping the Giants put paid to those detestable hawthorn flogs.

 

[Orangeutan]

Peace brothers and sisters. Here’s hoping the Giants put paid to those detestable hawthorn flogs.

I'm not sure many of us here share the same sentiment about the Hawks, but we hope for the same outcome!

 

[Orangeutan]

Very quiet news day!

It will be a real coaching battle as much as a players battle.

 

[taurus]

IMO, Rowston has been a direct boost in the revival of our season which was exposed our midfield weakness. That Hawks game in Tas with the exception of extreme weather, badly showed the gulf in the midfield.

We will miss him I fear.

 

[JC100]

IMO, Rowston has been a direct boost in the revival of our season which was exposed our midfield weakness. That Hawks game in Tas with the exception of extreme weather, badly showed the gulf in the midfield.

We will miss him I fear.

When we played them in round 3 they had Will Day and we were still playing Bedford as a tagger with Kelly spending plenty of time in the middle.

We now have cogs and XO playing inside and Kelly will plays wing with Bedford forward.

 

[Land of the Giants]

Are we going to wear the derby strip?

It makes sense, the contrast is perfect.

 

[Colonial]

Are we going to wear the derby strip?

It makes sense, the contrast is perfect.

Usually we announce it but haven’t heard anything yet

 

[Orangeutan]

Usually we announce it but haven’t heard anything yet

Such a quiet day from the club. No interviews, no ribbing on the socials.
Must be in business mode.

 

[Giant Strides]

Such a quiet day from the club. No interviews, no ribbing on the socials.
Must be in business mode.

Focussed.


Good.