The Magpies were the standout side of the home-and-away season, but they now face a giant task against arguably the form side of September. Nick Daicos is back, but is that enough to edge out the orange men?

Can the Giants be stopped?

Going on recent form, and their road-warrior spirit, the answer is no. If the AFL ladder was recast to take in only rounds 14 to 24, the Giants would have finished third on the ladder, with an 8-2 win-loss record. By comparison, the Magpies went 7-3 through this period. Plenty has been written about the Blues’ mid-season rebirth, but the Giants are arguably the story of the season; many expected them to finish in the bottom six. Their ability to pounce and score off turnovers, led by the brilliant Lachie Whitfield at half-back, has been superb, but against the Power they also dominated clearances 45-29. They scored a whopping nine goals from stoppages. “We’ve got to be able to adjust to what the opposition throw at us. If they are able to shut down the ‘A plan’ and the way we want to play, we’ve got to have something to lean on,” Giants coach Adam Kingsley said. The question is whether the Giants can handle the corridor run and carry of the daring Magpies. Remember, the Giants were crunched by 65 points in the team’s sole clash this season, in round nine at Marvel Stadium. However, they did upset Collingwood in the 2019 preliminary final.

How do the Magpies handle Greene?

The Magpies need to get this match-up right, for it will go a long way to securing victory if they do. Brayden Maynard and Isaac Quaynor are two options. Toby Greene didn’t play when the teams met in round nine, but Nathan Murphy spent significant time on the All-Australian captain when they met last year, while Jeremy Howe also had a spell. Greene loves the theatre of big games, and was instrumental early against the Power in giving his side the edge on the road. The Magpies will hope to push him up the field, curbing his brilliance around goal. If Greene bags three, the Magpies may be done.

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What about the battle of the midfield?

It doesn’t get much better than this. The Magpies will be without the robust Taylor Adams, perhaps giving the Giants the edge. Former Giants skipper Stephen Coniglio is arguably in career-best form, Callan Ward is a machine, Toby Bedford has been a revelation, while Josh Kelly is the Rolls-Royce, doing as he pleases on a wing. Then there’s the big-bodied Tom Green, now one of the league’s best midfielders. For the Magpies, Jordan De Goey is a proven September star, but goals will be vital from him. Jack Crisp generates drive, while veteran winger Steele Sidebottom will likely have Kelly as his match up. Then there’s Daicos.