‘Revenge and redemption’ on Giants’ Gabba menu

Murray Wenzel and Joanna Guelas | June 13, 2025

Sam Taylor wants “revenge and redemption” at the Gabba against the Brisbane Lions and has revealed a lingering regret in the fallout of GWS’s staggering semi-final loss last year.

The Giants looked set for a preliminary-final berth when they led by 44 points at home last year, only to surrender that advantage in one of the great AFL comebacks.

Chris Fagan’s side went on to win the premiership and, sitting second (9-3-1), will welcome the eighth-placed Giants (7-6) to the Gabba on Saturday.

Both clubs have said all week last year’s tussle is largely irrelevant, but try telling that to Taylor.

“It hasn’t been (touched on) formally, but definitely amongst the boys it still stings quite a bit,” he told AAP.

“I’ve sort of waited for this game … there’s nothing like losing a final that we should have won and trying to get our revenge.”

Taylor was in the thick of it last year, with Joe Daniher kicking two goals in the final minutes after the key defender was penalised for an insufficient attempt to keep the ball in play and then out-marked in a one-on-one.

“There’s probably a lot of players just leaving that final feeling like they didn’t leave everything out there,” he said.

“And they wanted to redeem themselves and that’s what I want to do.

“I want to play well and beat Brisbane … this game definitely means a lot more because of last year.”

Boasting a 4-2 record against the Lions since 2017 at a venue where most teams struggle, Taylor said they had committed to a bolder style of play following last week’s loss to Port Adelaide.

The Giants will welcome back midfielder Finn Callaghan (shoulder), but captain Toby Greene has been ruled out with a corked glute after initially being named in the squad.

First-year rookie Joey Delana replaces Greene.

“We’re just playing some boring football. We’re going to get back to playing excitingly, taking the game on,” he said.

“We want to just have fun, be hard, be tough to play against.

“We’re being too predictable and have sort of embarrassed a lot of ourselves and our fans. It’s time to turn things around.”

Fagan described last year’s win as “miraculous” but said it had no relevance to Saturday’s clash as they welcome back lock-down defender Brandon Starcevich (concussion) and key forward Sam Day (hamstring).

Ruckman Oscar McInerney will play VFL in his return from a month of managed rest, but could still feature after being listed as an injury reserve.

“Different year, different circumstances,” he said of their semi-final escape.

“It’s not a motivational thing for us; we’re in 2025 trying to do the best we can.”

Fagan is also taking little out of the Giants’ early-season form fluctuations.

“That’s how they’ve been almost every year,” Fagan said.

“That’s been their pattern. They’ll be looking to pick up their form, but it wasn’t long ago (May 11) they beat Geelong at Geelong.”