Preview 2025 Round 5 (Gather Round) - GWS Giants vs St Kilda, Sunday 13 April, 3:20 pm Norwood Oval

[Giant Strides]

After demolishing the Eagles at home, we pack our bags and join 16 other teams on the road to Adelaide next weekend, and the Sunday afternoon game at Norwood Oval against St Kilda. Both teams are on 12 points, with a mix of performances to date, so this will be an interesting clash to see who is looking more likely this season. Saints come off a good win against Port - leading out strongly, but having to hold off a fast-finishing home team, which they did. GWS are coming off a game where we got to show off our running game, to good effect.

Saints are likely to have King, Steele and Henry returning to their team for this game. They'll join a refreshed Jack Macrae who's been in great form for his new club, while their defence will also test our forward line. For Giants, it's unknown what the prognosis on Cogs is, and hence whether there's a potential change to return him.

Otherwise, Kingers tends to be loyal to the players when they have a good win. However, he'd have to be looking at Cal Ward's numbers and wondering if a freshen up would be useful. Stringer also hasn't fired yet, but I doubt he would be in the firing line yet. So, in short, a good chance of an unchanged (or at worst, minimally changed) team.

The good win by the VFL boys will keep the pressure on, and most of the understudy players are pushing their case.

How are others seeing this game?

 

[Drummond]

I’m curious what’s the go with Daniels. Subbed again, and seeing him sitting on the bench he didn’t look exactly thrilled. Is he sore? Being managed? Because he’s so influential and while they didn’t need him yesterday, you’d like to see him run out full games.

Plenty of guys looked really impressive in the VFL win, but unsure who comes out. Probably unchanged, with Cogs in for Brown if fit. Don’t think you want too many talls on Norwood Oval. With the way the Saints like to play, it’s going to be a bit of a congested scrap IMO.

 

[#1_pigeonracer]

I’m curious what’s the go with Daniels. Subbed again, and seeing him sitting on the bench he didn’t look exactly thrilled. Is he sore? Being managed? Because he’s so influential and while they didn’t need him yesterday, you’d like to see him run out full games.

Plenty of guys looked really impressive in the VFL win, but unsure who comes out. Probably unchanged, with Cogs in for Brown if fit. Don’t think you want too many talls on Norwood Oval. With the way the Saints like to play, it’s going to be a bit of a congested scrap IMO.

When was our last congested scrap?

 

[Battlepants]

I’m curious what’s the go with Daniels. Subbed again, and seeing him sitting on the bench he didn’t look exactly thrilled. Is he sore? Being managed? Because he’s so influential and while they didn’t need him yesterday, you’d like to see him run out full games.

Kingers said in the post-match press conference that Daniels had been dealing with a bit of soreness so they took the opportunity to give him a bit more of a rest.

If my memory serves the same thing happened towards the end of last season as well. Don't think there's any cause for alarm.

 

[Land of the Giants]

When was our last congested scrap?

Yesterday afternoon?

 

[GWS Goose]

Plenty of pressure from the 2's McMullen close to best on ground (as per reports), Harvey Thomas kicked 3, Gruz looked terrific in the highlights. Leak and Rowsten had good numbers, Rowsten looks incredible in the highlight package as well.
Madden really looks a more mature player, he was dominating in the ruck contest based purely off the highlights, although not going to go past Briggs, good to know we are not far away from having a good back up option.
Although unlikely to come into consideration, Wardius kicking 8 and looked classy, he looked every bit the AFL player and if he keeps doing that, he might get a chance.

 

[orange tsunami]

Bit of a danger game considering the saints have beaten Geelong and Port

 

[Orange crush]

Bit of a danger game considering the saints have beaten Geelong and Port

I think port are shot …. But the cats win was definitely a good one

 

[Danny88]

Wonder who snooze goes to

Macrae?

 

[Adam Giant]

There’s surely only room for one of Brown or Stringer in the forward line. Neither lit it up yesterday, but you’d expect them to stick with Stringer for now.

McMullin or Thomas are the obvious candidates for that role if Coniglio is still out. Wouldn’t expect any other changes to a winning team.

 

[GWS Goose]

There’s surely only room for one of Brown or Stringer in the forward line. Neither lit it up yesterday, but you’d expect them to stick with Stringer for now.

McMullin or Thomas are the obvious candidates for that role if Coniglio is still out. Wouldn’t expect any other changes to a winning team.

interestingly McMullen played on the wing in the VFL, he may come in for Wehr

 

[Land of the Giants]

How are others seeing this game?

I see it as a real danger game.

Think back to Manuka Oval last year, where we coughed up a five goal lead against them in the last quarter, and barely held on to win by a point.

Throw in what happened in the finals, then against the Hawks a couple of weeks ago, and it's questionable whether we've learned from it.

 

[Danny88]

interestingly McMullen played on the wing in the VFL, he may come in for Wehr

I thought wehr played a really solid game on the weekend

Supported defense really well and provided link up play

 

[Cmarsh]

interestingly McMullen played on the wing in the VFL, he may come in for Wehr

Does Wehr deserve to lose his spot? Thought he had a reasonable game vs West Coast.

 

[orange tsunami]

Callaghan or Tom Green getting the Windhager tag?

 

[JC100]

Callaghan or Tom Green getting the Windhager tag?

Callaghan for sure

 

[taurus]

It's a danger game. Ross the Boss is having a renaissance as a tactical mastermind. He would have a game plan for us.

Ward needs a rest. Back Wehr with Xman or McMullin on the wing as another poster said. Ward can return for the Crows game the following week.

 

[GWS Goose]

I thought wehr played a really solid game on the weekend

Supported defense really well and provided link up play

Does Wehr deserve to lose his spot? Thought he had a reasonable game vs West Coast.

Wehr is playing well and would be stiff if he loses his spot.
However I think that others are above him and will force their way in.

 

[Adam Giant]

It feels like we probably have five blokes vying for two spots in the team if everyone is fit. Wehr, O'Halloran, Ward, McMullin and Thomas.

The off-season suspensions have made it tricky to know the exact pecking order but it's a good problem to have.

 

[Adam Giant]

Callaghan or Tom Green getting the Windhager tag?

Maybe Windhager and Bedford can tag each other.

 

[BarryAglett]

We'll need to quell Sinclair. He's having a great start to the year.

 

[TheUnicorn]

Who's Bedford tagging in your opinions?

 

[GWS Goose]

Who's Bedford tagging in your opinions?

really good question.
Id like to see him go to Sinclair.
I think he is the most dangerous and also the type of player does really well against.

 

[GWS Goose]

We'll need to quell Sinclair. He's having a great start to the year.

Agree, Id put Bedford to him.

 

[Giant Pete]

I think the danger for us is playing too tall. Having all of Hogan, Cadman, Stringer, Brown and Riccardi is not the best mix imo.

We have to fully utilise our strengths. Hogan is the biggest weapon in the front half in the comp. We only need one or two other talls to assist him imo. With the ball coming to ground so much because of him we should stack our smaller players.

I don’t think Stringer and Brown are the best fit atm.

I’m not saying they aren’t good players.

My ideal mix would be:

Greene Riccardi Muff
Daniels Hogan Jones

I’d add Thomas in on the bench.

Ground ball is where games are won and lost. We have the players to dominate ground balls in the front half… with Greene, Muff, Thomas, Jones and Binga we could smash it.. have them rolling through the midfield as well.

Let Cadman kick a few bags in the twos and Stringer can continue to learn our system and build form in the twos.