GWS Giants vs Collingwood Magpies: AFL match result, highlights

Match result:

The GWS Giants have belted the Collingwood Magpies by 47 points in Sydney to re-stake their claims in the 2019 premiership race.

While most felt the injuries to Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio would make a win against the Pies almost impossible, particularly after Collingwood had travelled to Perth and knocked off the reigning premiers in Round 17, the Giants had other ideas.

The men in orange jumped the Pies early and led by 43 points at the end of the first quarter; a lead they maintained throughout the remainder of the match.

Jeremy Cameron and Harry Himmelberg kicked ten straight goals between them, the Giants swarmed the Pies midfielders with immense pressure and Collingwood never really threatened to take the game by the horns.

It was a game of one quarter; the first, as the Giants used energy and pressure to put the Pies to the sword. That will concern Nathan Buckley as Collingwood head into the final five weeks of the season.

Leon Cameron will be feeling that despite the injury concerns in his squad, there may still be a way into the top four and a crack at the 2019 AFL premiership.

Final score
GWS Giants 19.7.122
Collingwood Magpies 11.9.75

Match preview:

The GWS Giants meet the Collingwood Magpies in a top-eight clash at Giants Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:35pm (AEST).

With just six matches remaining in the regular season, both the Giants and Pies have plenty to play for in what had loomed on the schedule as a clash between top-four aspirants.

Certainly the Pies are still in that conversation, stemming the flow of two straight losses after a stunning win over the Eagles in Perth last week.

However, Greater Western Sydney continue to battle, in poor form and losing injured players seemingly each and every round.

With Josh Kelly still out, star midfielder Stephen Coniglio joins him on the pine after suffering a potentially season ending knee problem against the Tigers last weekend.

Captain Phil Davis and Matt de Boer are also out yet Shane Mumford returns to provide some starch in the ruck.

No such bad luck for the Pies as they welcome Jeremy Howe, Travis Varcoe and Taylor Adams back into the team and skipper Scott Pendlebury has been cleared to play despite fears he would not back up after picking up a slight injury in Round 17.

Things are starting to look a little terminal for the Giants. Now sitting seventh on the ladder and in immediate danger of losing a spot in the top eight, many people’s premiership favourites are undoubtedly on the skids.

Collingwood appeared to be living a similar nightmare until they found their much required mojo against the Eagles.

After that stand at Optus Stadium, many believe they have shaken off their mid-season wobbles and are now ready to mount a serious charge at the finals over the next six weeks.

Prediction
Despite home ground advantage, it is tough to see the Giants competing for the full four quarters against what looks like the most rounded and polished unit in the AFL when in full flight.

If Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has indeed clicked his team back into a high gear, this should be a comfortable win for the visitors.

It is a win they desperately need, locked in a tight battle with Brisbane and West Coast for second spot on the ladder.

Collingwood by 4 goals.

Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 4:35pm (AEST).

Where: Giants Stadium, Sydney
When: Saturday 20th July 2019, 4:35pm (AEST)
TV: Fox Footy, Kayo Sports, AFL app
Betting: Greater Western Sydney $2.07 Collingwood $1.75

Greater Western Sydney
B: Keeffe, Taylor, Williams
HB: Whitfield, Haynes, Shaw
C: Tomlinson, Hopper, Daniels
HF: Reid, Cameron, Greene
F: Lloyd, Himmelberg, Finlayson
FOLL: Simpson, Perryman, Taranto
I/C: Deledio, Stein, Hill, Mumford
EMG: Hately, Bonar, Buntine, Kennedy

Collingwood
B: Maynard, Roughead, Quaynor
HB: Aish, Howe, Adams
C: Phillips, Pendlebury, Sidebottom
HF: Brown, Cox, Hoskin-Elliott
F: De Goey, Mihocek, Varcoe
FOLL: Grundy, Treloar, Crisp
I/C: Appleby, Crocker, Mayne, Sier
EMG: Brown, Daicos, Madgen, Scharenberg