Preview 2026 Round 10 - GWS Giants vs West Coast Eagles, Sunday 17 May @ 6:15pm AEST, Optus Stadium

[Adam Giant]

It wasn't the most convincing performance, but the Giants rallied late to edge the Bombers by 14 points in Round 9, taking their season record to 4-5 and sitting in 13th spot heading into Round 10. It was a generally stuttering effort marred by skill errors and a lack of intensity, but the Giants did enough when it mattered and showed signs of improved form as the match progressed. Pleasingly, we have a chance to even the 2026 ledger when we take on the West Coast Eagles in Perth next Sunday.

The Giants and Eagles last met in Round 17 last year, with GWS winning easily by 59 points. The Giants, like most clubs, have a strong recent track record against West Coast, as the 2018 premiers appear stuck in a never-ending rebuild.

Opposition watch

It's easy to forget now, but the hapless Eagles actually had a bright start to their 2026 campaign. After Round 3, they were 2-1 with wins against North Melbourne and Port Adelaide. Since then, they've lost six matches on the trot and been on the end of several hidings, most notably to Sydney (128 points), St Kilda (101 points) and Fremantle (56 points). The Eagles now sit in 15th spot and have weaknesses all over the park, which the good sides have exploited in 2026. The question is... are we a good side? The answer to that, frustratingly, remains to be seen.

Team changes

As has been the case throughout the year, changes this week will largely be dictated by our health. While we appear to have come through the Essendon match unscathed, we know full-well that mysterious 'unknown' injuries tend to pop up later in the week. In the mix to return are Ryan Angwin (concussion), Jesse Hogan

23

Jesse Hogan

Age

31

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

(hip) and Leek Aleer (ankle). If recovered, Angwin likely comes in for Toby McMullin or Ollie Hannaford, both of whom struggled to make any impact with just four and five touches against Essendon respectively.

I'd like to see Jesse rested for another week unless he's feeling 100%. The 2024 Coleman Medalist remains off-contract for 2027, so I want to see more of the Cadman, Gruzewski and Riccardi KPF rotation given that Max and Jake are also off-contract at the end of this season.

So Giants fans, what are you expecting when we take on West Coast this week?

 

[Colonial]

It wasn't the most convincing performance, but the Giants rallied late to edge the Bombers by 14 points in Round 9, taking their season record to 4-5 and sitting in 13th spot heading into Round 10. It was a generally stuttering effort marred by skill errors and a lack of intensity, but the Giants did enough when it mattered and showed signs of improved form as the match progressed. Pleasingly, we have a chance to even the 2026 ledger when we take on the West Coast Eagles in Perth next Sunday.

The Giants and Eagles last met in Round 17 last year, with GWS winning easily by 59 points. The Giants, like most clubs, have a strong recent track record against West Coast, as the 2018 premiers appear stuck in a never-ending rebuild.

Opposition watch

It's easy to forget now, but the hapless Eagles actually had a bright start to their 2026 campaign. After Round 3, they were 2-1 with wins against North Melbourne and Port Adelaide. Since then, they've lost six matches on the trot and been on the end of several hidings, most notably to Sydney (128 points), St Kilda (101 points) and Fremantle (56 points). The Eagles now sit in 15th spot and have weaknesses all over the park, which the good sides have exploited in 2026. The question is... are we a good side? The answer to that, frustratingly, remains to be seen.

Team changes

As has been the case throughout the year, changes this week will largely be dictated by our health. While we appear to have come through the Essendon match unscathed, we know full-well that mysterious 'unknown' injuries tend to pop up later in the week. In the mix to return are Ryan Angwin (concussion), Jesse Hogan (hip) and Leek Aleer (ankle). If recovered, Angwin likely comes in for Toby McMullin or Ollie Hannaford, both of whom struggled to make any impact with just four and five touches against Essendon respectively.

I'd like to see Jesse rested for another week unless he's feeling 100%. The 2024 Coleman Medalist remains off-contract for 2027, so I want to see more of the Cadman, Gruzewski and Riccardi KPF rotation given that Max and Jake are also off-contract at the end of this season.

So Giants fans, what are you expecting when we take on West Coast this week?

Just wanting more connection. More team work.
We get that down. We will be in the 8 and destroy the Eagles.

We don’t find it and we fall over the line against them. Or worse.

HH forward with Cads leading forward and Ricca.
Gru I don’t think is sticking around so why bother wasting the spot.
Aleer takes HH position in the back while learning ruck with Briggs.

 

[Tenens Pila]

Excellent summary.

I'm thinking just the one change - Angwin for McMullin.

Keep resting Hogan. Leek probably won't be ready for another week anyway.

I'd like to see HH moving to the forward line more often.

Also hoping that the team plays a lot more tempo footy - the constant frantic pace can often be the team's undoing.

 

[Joshawk23]

Going to this game, Excited

 

[Orangeutan]

Weagles clearance work and ball movement was pretty good against the Dees.
They tend to have better showings at home, too.

This weekend we showed much better signs in the 2nd half based on effort, rather than being slick.
Happy to get 4 points and gain some more mojo going forward.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

This is a game we should win, even though it is played in Optus. West Coast are one of the teams that will be fighting to avoid the wooden spoon, and even injured Richmond beat them a couple of weeks ago in Optus.

However we have to be wary as Optus Stadium has not historically been a great ground for us, and we have won only 3 of the 11 games played there - with 2 of these being our last two games.

In the end with some of the returning players we should be too strong for the Eagles. We have a good recent record against West Coast, winning our last 3 games against them, and Kingsley’s only loss against the Eagles was in his first game against them as coach. Since then we have beaten West Coast by an average margin of 68 points!

Just hoping for no further injuries, as after West Coast we have the premiers Brisbane and then a problematic Melbourne in Alice before we head for the bye.

 

[MelbourneGWS]

One thing to savour is if Toby can kick 3 goals to make history - he will then become the player who has scored the most number of goals for our club (currently he is only 2 goals behind Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

33

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

).

 

[Adam Giant]

One thing to savour is if Toby can kick 3 goals to make history - he will then become the player who has scored the most number of goals for our club (currently he is only 2 goals behind Jeremy Cameron).

That's an interesting stat. I assume Jeremy has been atop our goal-kicking leaderboard since early 2012.

 

[Giant Strides]

That's an interesting stat. I assume Jeremy has been atop our goal-kicking leaderboard since early 2012.

Yes, end of 2012 Jezza had 29 goals. Jonathon Giles was 2nd on 18, then Adam Treloar and Devon Smith with 12 & 10 respectively. Jezza was the top goalscorer for every year he was here (every year after H&A, and only in one year 2017 after the finals did he share the top goalscoring honour).

Incidentally, Harry Himmelberg is 4th on our list, behind Jesse Hogan.

 

[Adam Giant]

Yes, end of 2012 Jezza had 29 goals. Jonathon Giles was 2nd on 18, then Adam Treloar and Devon Smith with 12 & 10 respectively. Jezza was the top goalscorer for every year he was here (every year after H&A, and only in one year 2017 after the finals did he share the top goalscoring honour).

Incidentally, Harry Himmelberg is 4th on our list, behind Jesse Hogan.

Just had a quick look and you can go back further than that. Jeremy kicked 4 goals in Round 2 that year to take the lead and from what I can see was never overtaken, meaning he has been atop our goal-kicking leaderboard for all but one game in our history (Round 1, 2012).

 

[Orange crush]

Just had a quick look and you can go back further than that. Jeremy kicked 4 goals in Round 2 that year to take the lead and from what I can see was never overtaken, meaning he has been atop our goal-kicking leaderboard for all but one game in our history (Round 1, 2012).

Time to be dethroned

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Time to be dethroned

Yes - a tribute to Toby’s skills and his longevity. Jeremy is the better goal kicker though as he scored his 427 goals in 171 games - Toby’s game in Optus this weekend will be his 271st.

 

[Orange crush]

Yes - a tribute to Toby’s skills and his longevity. Jeremy is the better goal kicker though as he scored his 427 goals in 171 games - Toby’s game in Optus this weekend will be his 271st.

Well …. One is a key forward and the other a mid-cum-forward-cum-mid ….

 

[MelbourneGWS]

Well …. One is a key forward and the other a mid-cum-forward-cum-mid ….

Time for Toby to be a forward again and complete the circle!

 

[Orangeutan]

Time for Toby to be a forward again and complete the circle!

The dream is first to 300 games and 500 goals.

 

[Orange crush]

The dream is first to 300 games and 500 goals.

And 50 weeks and 1 cup

 

[Undertheradar_]

Bring in Rowston for Muff or Hannaford as well.

 

[Orange crush]

Bring in Rowston for Muff or Hannaford as well.

Seems more than a few people have lost the taste for muff …. No longer the flavor of the week

 

[AdamKingsleysForearms]

If anything i'm hoping these back to back matches bring about the spark this side so desperately needs. The centre clearance wonder that lead to Brent Daniels

16

Brent Daniels

Age

27

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

' amazing goal brought about a roar in the crowd and a fire in the lads that I personally haven't seen since our opening round scrap against Hawthorn.

Still lots of warning signs though, despite recent thrashings West Coast do look more coherent and in their best looked quite respectable this year. It's been the painful reminder that they're still very much in a rebuild that's set things back for them and the boys need to take advantage of that and find their groove to motivate them for the rest of the season. A win here could do wonders for confidence against the juggernaut that is Brisbane and their looming 3peat aspirations...

 

[Giant Strides]

Seems more than a few people have lost the taste for muff …. No longer the flavor of the week

He muffed his opportunity.

 

[Orange crush]

He muffed his opportunity.

Fairy muff

 

[MelbourneGWS]

He muffed his opportunity.

Life always offers you a second chance... It's called tomorrow!

 

[Giant Strides]

To be honest, the stats and heat maps for the two additions were interesting. The two lowest ToG - Ollie at a very lowly 37%, Muff at 56%. Hardly got their hands on the ball, and Toby's heat map was fairly scattered - 75% in defence though, while Ollie was clearly played forward (where we don't need the extra player).

Harry Rowston doesn't seem to have played the VFL game, but I didn't see any announcements about him, or any injury.

I'm still of a view that we're suffering in the midfield. Although we competed pretty well for clearances in the Bombers game, we lost the inside 50 count by a large margin, which we simply cannot keep covering up by good defence. I still think we need a genuine midfielder for that role. I'd happily see Rowsten in the team - if he was actually played in the midfield role. I'd love to see Jack Ough get a chance - he continues to perform in VFL: gets clearances, tackles hard. Would like that he gets rewarded ... and maybe it helps the AFL team's game!

 

[Orange crush]

To be honest, the stats and heat maps for the two additions were interesting. The two lowest ToG - Ollie at a very lowly 37%, Muff at 56%. Hardly got their hands on the ball, and Toby's heat map was fairly scattered - 75% in defence though, while Ollie was clearly played forward (where we don't need the extra player).

Harry Rowston doesn't seem to have played the VFL game, but I didn't see any announcements about him, or any injury.

I'm still of a view that we're suffering in the midfield. Although we competed pretty well for clearances in the Bombers game, we lost the inside 50 count by a large margin, which we simply cannot keep covering up by good defence. I still think we need a genuine midfielder for that role. I'd happily see Rowsten in the team - if he was actually played in the midfield role. I'd love to see Jack Ough get a chance - he continues to perform in VFL: gets clearances, tackles hard. Would like that he gets rewarded ... and maybe it helps the AFL team's game!

Surely Jough gets a run

 

[Giant Strides]

These are Jack's 2026 stats for the 5 games played. I reckon he'd be pretty handy.