Greater Western Sydney is licking its wounds from another tough defeat, a 129-point loss by the Swans at the SCG. The Giants return to their Skoda Stadium home this week aiming to finish off the season well. They won't be afraid of the Bombers, having led them by 21 points at half-time at Etihad Stadium earlier this year in a very competitive display. They also played well against Essendon when they opened Skoda Stadium in round nine last season.
The Bombers will be no easy task though as they zero in on a top four finish this season. James Hird's side has taken all in its stride this year, holding off a plucky Western Bulldogs side on Sunday to lie one win behind the top two, Hawthorn and Geelong. Essendon also has the lowest percentage of the top four sides, something it will want to improve at Sydney Olympic Park.
WHERE AND WHEN: Skoda Stadium, Saturday, July 20, 2.10pm
LAST TWO MEETINGS
R6, 2013, Essendon 17.18 (120) d GWS 12.9 (81) at Etihad Stadium
R9, 2012, Essendon 18.11 (119) d GWS 7.11 (53) at Skoda Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The two coaches Hird and Kevin Sheedy will go head-to-head for the third and final time. The pair has a long history, as Sheedy coached Hird in all 253 games he played for the Bombers.
2. It has been a long, long time since Sheedy was part of a winning side against Essendon, the team he coached for 27 years. It came in round 17, 1978 when he was playing for Richmond.
3. With key backs Phil Davis and Chad Cornes missing for most of the season, the Giants have struggled defensively, conceding an AFL-worst 139 points per game. In contrast, the Bombers are the third best defensive side this year behind Fremantle and the Swans.
4. Callan Ward leads the Giants in the Official AFL Player Ratings, but has slid from No.22 to No.32 over the past six weeks. He will want to arrest that slide on Saturday. With Jobe Watson injured, Brent Stanton is the top-ranked Bomber available at No.37 overall.
5. GWS will be hoping for a strong crowd on Saturday. The 11,887 fans who came to the opening of Skoda Stadium for the Bombers game last year represents the biggest crowd at the venue to date.
6. Hird has managed to turn around Essendon's horrible interstate record during his time at the helm, but trips to Sydney remain a problem. The Bombers have won only three of their past 11 matches in the harbour city.
