The GIANTS have made two forced changes for the club’s Saturday twilight clash with Carlton at Marvel Stadium.
Veteran midfielder Callan Ward returns to the GIANTS’ side for his 297th AFL game while emerging defender Leek Aleer comes in for the fifth game of his career.
Ward comes back into the side following 33 disposals, 12 clearances and three tackles in his first-ever VFL game for the club. He returned via the VFL after a shoulder injury in the opening round win over Collingwood.
Former co-captain Ward replaces vice-captain Stephen Coniglio, who will miss the next two weeks with a minor knee injury.
Meanwhile, young defender Leek Aleer comes in to replace All Australian defender Sam Taylor (concussion), 609 days since he last played at AFL level.
After missing much of last season with persistent injuries, the mature-age draftee has put together a solid pre-season and impressed with 14 disposals and six marks in the VFL win last weekend.
The South Australian, from a Sudanese background who was born in Kenya, debuted in round 20, 2022 and played four games straight before the interruptions last season.
Saturday’s match will be shown live on Fox Footy and Kayo nationally from 4:30pm as well as live and free on 7mate from 4:30pm in NSW and the ACT.
The Orange Army is invited to join GIANTS ambassador Alex Williams and his sidekick Brandon McClelland at the Royal Sheaf Hotel in Burwood on Saturday to cheer on the GIANTS in their away clash with the Blues.
Hosts of the brand-new podcast, ‘They Might Become GIANTS’, join the crew and head along to the Royal Sheaf Hotel in Burwood on Saturday.
Round 6
Carlton v GIANTS
Saturday, April 20 at 4:35pm
Marvel Stadium | Wurundjeri Country
FB: Harry Perryman, Harry Himmelberg, Connor Idun
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Jack Buckley, Lachie Ash
C: Jacob Wehr, Josh Kelly, Finn Callaghan
HF: Brent Daniels, Jake Riccardi, Toby Bedford
FF: Toby Greene, Jesse Hogan, Callum Brown
RR: Kieren Briggs, Callan Ward, Tom Green
Interchange: Xavier O’Halloran, Harvey Thomas, Leek Aleer, Aaron Cadman, James Peatling
In: Callan Ward, Leek Aleer
Out: Sam Taylor (concussion), Stephen Coniglio (knee)
Emergencies: Nick Haynes, Ryan Angwin, Max Gruzewski
