Conor Stone will play his first full game for the season, securing a spot in the starting line-up for the GIANTS’ Easter Sunday clash against the Bombers.
The 20-year-old was the 15th pick in the 2020 Draft and made his debut in round four, 2021, playing four games in his debut season before hamstring injuries interrupted his year.
He played one game in 2022, in round nine, before persistent injuries also kept him sidelined. This season he has started as the sub in rounds two and three, coming on in both games in the final quarter.
GIANTS coach Adam Kingsley said he is looking forward to what Stone can produce in his first full game of the year.
“Conor is a great young talent who has been training as a forward all summer,” Kingsley said.
“He’s big-bodied but incredibly athletic and has great speed. It’s a tough role to come on an impact as the sub and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do with some consistency and game time under his belt.”
Also into the side is veteran Adam Kennedy who laid seven tackles and kicked a goal in three quarters in the VFL last weekend.
“Adam is a wonderfully reliable player for us who can play any role you ask of him,” Kingsley said.
“He’ll come back into the team and provide us with some versatility.”
The new man in charge is looking forward to taking on an in-form Bombers side on Sunday afternoon.
“While we didn’t get the result, we were really pleased with aspects of our game against Carlton last week,” Kingsley said.
“We know it’s a new game plan and a new system and we will have some ups and downs but we’ve had a great week on the training track and we’re looking forward to putting that into practice against the Dons.”
The GIANTS take on Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Sunday with live coverage on Channel 7, Foxtel and Kayo in NSW and the ACT.
Match Information:
Essendon v GIANTS
Sunday, April 9 at 2:10pm
Wurundjeri Country | Marvel Stadium
Team:
FB: Connor Idun, Sam Taylor, Isaac Cumming
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Jack Buckley, Lachie Ash
C: Finn Callaghan, Harry Rowston, Josh Kelly
HF: Daniel Lloyd, Harry Himmelberg, Callan Ward
FF: Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Brent Daniels
RR: Matt Flynn, Tom Green, Stephen Coniglio
Interchange: Jake Riccardi, Conor Stone, Nick Haynes, Adam Kennedy
Emergencies: Cooper Hamilton, James Peatling, Aaron Cadman, Josh Fahey
In: Conor Stone, Adam Kennedy
Out: James Peatling, Cooper Hamilton (omitted)
