Can Giants repeat 2019 heroics against Pies?

GWS booked themselves a preliminary final berth with their twenty-three-point semi final win over Port Adelaide last Saturday night.

After starting their September campaign in seventh, the Giants will now take on minor premiers Collingwood for a spot in the grand final.

While the Giants will be coming off a six-day break and will be on the road for the third consecutive week, they won’t fear the venue, stage or opposition having upset Collingwood in an MCG preliminary final in 2019.

Although they’ll head into the game as underdogs, Kane Cornes said he believes GWS’ game is in great order and he feels they can win if they bring their best footy.

“They can do it, they’re playing as good a football as anyone,” Cornes said on AFL.com.au’s The Round So Far.

“Everything is in good shape, their midfield they’ve now got flying.

“Only a month ago Port Adelaide kicked 70 points from stoppage [against them] so they’ve been able to fix that.

“[Kieren] Briggs is a top three or four ruckman in the game so they’ll definitely have an advantage there.

“Behind the ball with [Sam] Taylor back in and [Jack] Buckley, they’re rock solid.

“Then their key forwards are going well and they’ve got Toby Greene.

“There’s a lot of threats.”

While Cornes isn’t writing off the Giants, his tip is still firmly with Collingwood as he thinks they’ve been the best side in it all year.

“But you’d be a pretty brave person to tip against Collingwood,” he said.

“Collingwood have been the best team all year and I’ve said all year we’ll see them on Grand Final day.

“Nothing that I’ve seen from the Giants will sway me of that opinion.”

Collingwood beat GWS 120-55 when the sides faced off at the MCG in round nine.

The bounce for Friday’s preliminary final is set for 7.50 pm.

– LACHLAN GELEIT/ SEN