A 25-man squad has been named for the GIANTS’ match simulation against the Swans at Tramway Oval on Thursday.
A close to full-strength squad has been named for the GIANTS’ first hit-out of the season, when the orange tsunami takes on the Swans on Thursday morning.
Vice-captains Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly headline the squad of 25, with captain Toby Greene to sit out the match with he and partner Georgia expecting their first child.
Leadership group members Sam Taylor, Connor Idun and Tom Green will all feature while fellow leader Harry Perryman won’t be available until round one as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Versatile defender Isaac Cumming will also be sidelined until round one after suffering a quad injury in pre-season training.
After a full pre-season, midfielder Finn Callaghan has been ruled out of the match simulation and next week’s practice match but will be a test to take on Collingwood in opening round after a minor shoulder aggravation.
Coming off an ACL injury in March last year, enigmatic forward Darcy Jones will also sit out this week’s match simulation with minor soreness but will be available to make his return in next week’s practice match against the Suns.
Nick Haynes (rolled ankle), Max Gruzewski (concussion protocols), Conor Stone (hamstring tightness) and Nathan Wardius (soreness) will miss the match simulation but are all also expected to be available for next week’s practice match ahead of the season opener.
Draftee Harvey Thomas has been included in the squad with the GIANTS Academy graduate from Wagga Wagga to get his first hit-out in GIANTS colours.
Fellow draftee Phoenix Gothard has been sidelined with glandular fever but has returned to light training at the club while James Leake will return to full training in the opening rounds of the season after a quad injury.
Adam Kennedy (knee) and Braydon Preuss (back) are on the club’s long-term injury list and expected to return to full training in the first month of the season.
James Peatling, Harry Rowston, Joe Fonti, Nick Madden, Cooper Hamilton and Wade Derksen will all feature in a VFL practice match following the AFL game.
The GIANTS take on the Swans at Tramway Oval on Thursday from 10am with live coverage on Kayo.
Next Thursday, February 29, the GIANTS will take on the Suns in a final practice match at Manuka Oval before their opening round clash with Collingwood at GIANTS Stadium on March 9.
Squad – Match Simulation
Swans v GIANTS
Thursday, February 22 at 10am
Tramway Oval
3 – Stephen Coniglio
5 – Aaron Cadman
6 – Lachie Whitfield
7 – Lachie Ash
8 – Callan Ward
9 – Ryan Angwin
10 – Jacob Wehr
12 – Tom Green
14 – Toby Bedford
15 – Sam Taylor
16 – Brent Daniels
21 – Leek Aleer
22 – Josh Kelly
23 – Jesse Hogan
25 – Lachlan Keeffe
26 – Jake Riccardi
27 – Harry Himmelberg
28 – Harvey Thomas
31 – Toby McMullin
32 – Kieren Briggs
33 – Xavier O’Halloran
34 – Josh Fahey
39 – Connor Idun
44 – Jack Buckley
46 – Callum Brown
