Travis Boak - 301 Games, PAFC AFL Games Record Holder - we salute you.
The Giants are the only team we are yet to play. Our record in Canberra is abysmal (1-5, with the win coming against a young Giants outfit in 2014), but it would seem that won't matter as it is unlikely that Manuka will remain the host, despite full crowds being currently allowed here. The AFL needs to negotiate with at least three State/Territory leaders to reach a compromise here, which would on the surface put the game at risk anywhere. I guess they could park it to the Sunday afternoon in Ballarat, but that shouldn't faze us (if it's Metricon though, the surface is getting pretty chopped up and we'd be nervous about injuries).
GWS are something of a bogey team in recent years - we've won only one (last year) of the last six, and we have struggled to score against them in that time (average F/A in the last 6 is 64-87).
Win-loss overall is 5-6 going back to the infamous "Primus game" in 2012:
2020 R6 63-46 W Metricon
2019 R19 55-56 L Adelaide Oval
2018 R18 58-80 L Adelaide Oval
2017 R4 81-112 L Manuka Oval
2016 R18 60-79 L Adelaide Oval
2016 R4 65-151 L Manuka Oval
2015 R20 111-90 W Adelaide Oval
2014 R7 132-97 W Manuka Oval
2013 R12 125-50 W Syd Showground
2013 R2 134-78 W Football Park
2012 R19 73-107 L Syd Showground
GWS are one of five teams battling for the last spot in the eight. Their form is all over the shop - in recent games they lost to Hawthorn and drew with North but beat Melbourne and scraped in against Essendon. They've had a few close wins and got pretty close to Sydney a couple of weeks ago with most of their side in quarantine. They look a better side with Mumford, who seems to be able to get away with just about anything.
On paper they look better than they are. If they get midfield dominance they are capable of a score (as they did against the Crows when the latter had some reasonable early season form), and Davis will doubtless take a record number of intercept marks if we persist with bombing into 50. I'm assuming Toby Greene is still out, but there are still players like Whitfield (possibly still under an injury cloud) and Kelly who will be dangerous off the lead. Hogan will need some accountability.
Their fans deplore their inefficiency in F50 and are screaming for a new coach, so I'm assuming they aren't Giants fans at all, but you lot with alt accounts. It took them until the 4th quarter last week to gain any kind of ascendancy over Essendon, which put them back in the eight at the Dons' expense.
We've been consistent against the lower teams, our Triumvirate of Doom will be better for the run last week, and there is a chance Orazio is back (and Lachie too?). Scotty copped a fine from the Collingwood game but is free to play here. It's hard to see us losing this one if it's played in Melbourne, especially indoors.
Port to take the Hombsch-Neade Shield (aka the Dingle Memorial Trophy) by 4 goals in a fairly dour low-scoring game, Butters BOG.
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