<p>It’s gone from bad to worse to catastrophic for the Bombers this year. Another week, more injuries.</p> <p>To make matters worse, long-term injuries to key players, including one they could ill afford to lose.&nbsp;</p> <p>The ACL injury to Nic Martin is a hammer blow to the Dons and will impact the 2026 season significantly, as he’s one of their mid-forward pieces.&nbsp;</p> <p>To further compound matters for the Dons, they lost their sixth game in a row on Saturday night to the Tigers, in what has been widely condemned as one of the worst games of Aussie rules football ever played.&nbsp;</p> <p>And now, we, as a football-loving public who asked for more Thursday night footy, have to watch the Bombers, who are currently being held together by Zach Merrett, Nate Caddy, Isaac Kakko, and several pieces of sellotape and string, back up on a five-day break to host the Giants, who are in finals mode.</p> <p>The Giants, who have been on a roll in recent weeks, added another big feather in their cap when they got the better of Geelong again, this time at their home ground.&nbsp;</p> <p>After a sluggish start, the forward line functioned probably as well as it has this season, even without a big bag from reigning Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan, who only contributed one goal. It was the other young key forward, Aaron Cadman, with a half-dozen goals, who continues to build his reputation as one of the brightest young key forwards in the game. Oh, and then there’s the skipper and Jake Stringer, who seems to be really hitting his straps over the past month.&nbsp;</p> <p>Now, he rolls into a game against his former club… he’ll be looking to turn it on against the club that was offering him out to anyone at the end of the year before the Giants came calling late.&nbsp;</p> <p>It looks like another long night at the office for the Bombers, but can they rally to cause an upset and create a significant roadblock in the Giants' season?</p> <p>The Dons will call upon the last remaining players on their list to ensure they can field a team. Nic Martin will be out with his torn ACL, and important midfielder Will Setterfield will also sit out the rest of the season with a torn Lisfranc ligament in his foot.&nbsp;</p> <p>Boom youngster Nate Caddy is also expected to miss the clash with groin soreness, as is Ben Hobbs.</p> <p>Out-of-favour duo Archie Perkins and Dylan Shiel were strong at VFL level and are most likely to come in and fill the midfield spots left by the injured players. Mid-season draftee Liam McMahon, one of the few Bombers on the list who has yet to debut this year, continued his strong goalkicking form.&nbsp;</p> <p>At the Giants, after emerging from the clash with the Cats with a clean bill of health, there won’t be any forced changes after the five-day break. Instead, it will be interesting to see if and how many players get managed for the clash.&nbsp;</p> <p>Veteran Stephen Coniglio put his hand up for a recall with his second week in a row in the VFL after a long injury layoff.&nbsp;</p> <p>For the latest team news, analysis, odds, and betting tips, check out our Dons vs Giants prediction and preview below.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Essendon vs GWS Giants Predicted Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Essendon Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: Archie Roberts, Jayden Laverde, Andy McGrath</p> <p>HB: Angus Clarke, Jordan Ridley, Mason Redman</p> <p>C: Xavier Duursma, Zach Merrett, Luamon Lual</p> <p>HF: Archie Perkins, Liam McMahon, Lachie Blakiston</p> <p>F: Isaac Kako, Peter Wright, Archer May</p> <p>Foll: Todd Goldstein, Oskar Smartt, Sam Durham</p> <p>Int: Dylan Sheil, Matt Guelfi, Elijah Tsatas, Jaxon Prior, Zak Johnson</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>GWS Giants Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: Connor Idun, Leek Aleer, Joe Fonti</p> <p>HB: Lachie Whitfield, Jack Buckley, Lachie Ash</p> <p>C: Ryan Angwin, Finn Callaghan, Josh Kelly</p> <p>HF: Xavier O’Halloran, Aaron Cadman, Darcy Jones</p> <p>F: Jake Stringer, Jesse Hogan, Toby Greene</p> <p>Foll: Kieran Briggs, Tom Green, Toby Bedford</p> <p>Int: Jake Riccardi, Harry Himmelberg, Callum Brown, Harry Rowston, Harvey Thomas</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Essendon vs GWS Giants Prediction &amp; Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>The Giants hold sway in the recent head-to-head fixtures, winning three of the past five matches. But if you were looking for that slight glimmer of hope, Bombers fans, here it is.</p> <p>The Bombers have won the past three clashes at Marvel Stadium. Including the most recent matchup last year. The famous day when the ‘Essendon Edge” was coined was when everyone thought that things might actually start changing at Essendon.</p> <p>But alas, it was not to be, and the Dons are back in the state of woe and hurt.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Giants are second for ‘points for’ over the past five weeks, while over the same period, the Bombers are ranked third last in ‘points against’. The Giants have also turned on their turnover game over the last month, ranking second in the competition for points off turnover.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Giants need to keep winning to cement their place in September, and they get a live kill here in the form of the Bombers. Unfortunately, we think this might be another lacklusture Thursday night fixture.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/essendon-v-gws-giants-9386451">Giants</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal Prediction</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s been quite the few weeks for Aaron Cadman.</p> <p>Notching 50 games at AFL, kicking bags of goals in commanding performances, and signing a lucrative new contract to stay with the Giants. Life must be good for the boy from Baccush Marsh.&nbsp;</p> <p>We’re backing him to keep a good thing going with the first goal of the night here.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/essendon-v-gws-giants-9386451">Aaron Cadman</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Most Disposals Prediction</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Finn Callaghan knocked back a contract offer from the Saints earlier this year that was reportedly worth up to $17 million over the span of the deal. Based purely on his output this year, that seems like it’s unders based on the levels he is producing.&nbsp;</p> <p>Averaging 30 disposals per game from his last five matches, we’re picking him for most disposals as he continues his charge to a maiden All-Australian jacket.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/essendon-v-gws-giants-9386451">Finn Callaghan 30+ disposals&nbsp;</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Essendon Bombers vs GWS Giants Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Thursday, July 17, 2025</p> <p><strong>First Bounce:</strong> 7:30pm AEST</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Marvel Stadium, Melbourne</p> <p><strong>How to watch:</strong> Channel 7, Fox Footy/Kayo Sports&nbsp;</p>