The Greene and Green-led Giants will have their first hit-out against a rival AFL club on Saturday as they host fellow expansion club Gold Coast in an official practice match.
In his first season as solo Giants captain, Toby Greene will be hoping to make a strong early impression, while young midfield star Tom Green — who racked up 50 touches in the club’s intra-club hit-out in Canberra last week, according to the Giants’ website — will be keen to make a statement against genuine opposition.
The Suns, who fell just short of a maiden finals campaign last season, will be boosted by the return of star forward Ben King, who missed the entire 2022 season due to injury. However Touk Miller (hamstring), Brandon Ellis and Bailey Humphrey (foot) remain sidelined for the Suns.
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This match gets underway at 12.10pm AEDT from Blacktown International Sportspark.
Watch it live on Fox Sports (Channel 503) from midday.
QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT
Playing in his first game back from an ACL injury, Ben King kicked the opening goal for the Suns and got mobbed by teammates thereafter.
“That will make him feel so good, he puts it through and his teammates share the moment with him,” Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson exclaimed.
Joel Jeffrey make it two-straight Gold Coast goals in an ideal start for Stewart Dew’s side.
Finn Callaghan continued on from his promising pre-season with a strong start, kicking the Suns’ opener before setting up another to change momentum in the game.
“(The turnaround is) off the back of Callaghan, he’s the one who’s changing the dynamic for GWS – winning his own ball back, positioning himself well centre forward,” Bulldogs great Brad Johnson said on Fox Footy.
“To score himself but set up another couple of opportunities.”
James Peatling booted the Giants’ third late in the first quarter to extend their lead to eight points.
GIANTS
B: C.Idun 39 S.Taylor 15 I.Cumming 13
HB: L.Ash 7 N.Haynes 19 L.Whitfield 6
C: F.Callaghan 17 T.Green 12 J.Wehr 10
HF: C.Stone 18 H.Himmelberg 27 J.Peatling 20
F: T.Greene – C 4 J.Hogan 23 D.Lloyd 38
Foll: B.Preuss 11 S.Coniglio 3 J.Kelly 22
I/C: C.Ward 8 H.Perryman 36 A.Kennedy 40 J.Riccardi 26 X.O’Halloran 33 L.Aleer 21 J.Fahey 34 M.Flynn 30
SUNS
B: B.Long 22 S.Collins 25 C.Graham 46
HB: J.Farrar 50 C.Ballard 10 C.Constable 33
C: E.Hollands 36 N.Anderson 15 S.Flanders 3
HF: N.Holman 7 M.Chol 1 J.Lukosius 13
F: J.Jeffrey 40 B.King 34 B.Ainsworth 9
Foll: J.Witts – C 28 D.Swallow 24 M.Rowell 18
I/C: T.Berry 16 L.Casboult 30 B.Fiorini 8 A.Davies 5 D.Macpherson 44 N.Moyle 49 A.Sexton 6 B.Uwland 32
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