Roar Guru
The Greater Western Sydney Giants will be looking to redeem themselves after last weekend’s loss, and it’s the Brisbane Lions with the daunting task of facing them at Spotless Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:10pm (AEST).
The Giants sit fifth on the ladder, a place they fully deserve based on their early-season form, with their three losses coming at the hands of the Swans, Eagles and Bulldogs, all away from home.
Their six wins have seen triumphs over Hawthorn and Adelaide, as well as thumping wins over the Blues, Suns and Demons. A win over the Lions would set them up nicely for next week’s game against Collingwood.
The Lions strung together consecutive wins three weeks ago, but that’s been the only joy in a fairly dog season. Their injury list is perhaps only matched by their fellow Queenslanders’, and they’ve slumped to 16th on the ladder, despite the pre-season optimism surrounding them.
The Lions get a much needed break next weekend, and a chance to get their list a little healthier.
The Giants will make at least two changes for this clash, as Nick Haynes comes out with a groin injury, while Adam Kennedy has been dropped. Phil Davis, Zac Williams, Rory Lobb, Jack Steele, and Nathan Wilson are all in line for a recall.
Brisbane have made five changes, and there are some massive outs. James Aish suffered a jaw injury, Ryan Harwood misses with concussion, Claye Beams is out for the year with a knee injury, Tom Rockliff broke ribs for the second time this season, and Jed Adcock pinged a calf.
The long list of potential replacements are Jordon Bourke, Hugh Beasley, Pearce Hanley, Josh Clayton, Tom Cutler, Sam Mayes, Mitch Golby, and Josh McGuinness.
This marks the first time the Lions have travelled south to play the Giants, as they’ve been lucky enough to face them at home three years in a row. The Lions hold a 2-1 advantage from those three games, although the Giants did take last year’s clash by 45 points.
Prediction
The Giants were very bad last weekend, but you’d expect the occasional performance like that from such a young squad. The Lions are on their last legs already for 2015, and the Giants should lump more misery on the battling club.
Giants by 52