Vice-captain Josh Kelly headlines the inclusions for the GIANTS as they get set to take on the Western Bulldogs at GIANTS Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Kelly will return for his first game since round 16 with the superstar midfielder joined in the team by Matt de Boer, who returns from a shoulder injury suffered before the bye.
The duo return to the GIANTS’ engine room with Kelly averaging more than 30 touches and five tackles in his 12 games this season and de Boer considered one of the best taggers in the competition before his injury.
Dynamic forward Harry Himmelberg also returns after a week on the sidelines with a calf injury with the 23-year-old enjoying a career-best season, kicking 33 goals so far this year.
The trio are confirmed starters with Isaac Cumming, Aidan Corr and Zach Sproule also added to the extended interchange with the final team to be finalised at 5pm on Friday.
Cumming has played four of his six career games this season and was close to a senior recall before a hamstring injury sidelined him.
He’s looking to return alongside key defender Aidan Corr, who has managed just two games this season in rounds six and seven after persistent calf injuries.
Also on the 26-man bench is potential debutant Zach Sproule, who has kicked 26 goals in 11 games in the NEAFL this season. His third year on the GIANTS’ list, the rookie from Albury graduated through the GIANTS Academy system.
Out of the side go Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) and Brett Deledio (calf) with injury.
The duo suffered their respective injuries in last Friday night’s match at UNSW Canberra Oval with Deledio aiming to return for the club’s first final and Cameron to miss just a week with a minor hamstring complaint.
The GIANTS take on the Western Bulldogs at GIANTS Stadium on Sunday at 3:20pm. The final 22 will be named at 5pm tomorrow.
GIANTS v Western Bulldogs
Sunday, August 18 at 3:20pm
GIANTS Stadium
FB: Adam Kennedy, Phil Davis, Heath Shaw
HB: Harry Perryman, Nick Haynes, Lachie Keeffe
C: Lachie Whitfield, Tim Taranto, Josh Kelly
HF: Matt de Boer, Harry Himmelberg, Brent Daniels
FF: Bobby Hill, Adam Tomlinson, Sam Reid
RR: Shane Mumford, Toby Greene, Zac Williams
Interchange (from): Isaac Cumming, Aiden Bonar, Dawson Simpson, Jackson Hately, Aidan Corr, Zach Sproule, Jye Caldwell, Jake Stein
In: Josh Kelly, Matt de Boer, Harry Himmelberg, Isaac Cumming, Aidan Corr, Zach Sproule
Out: Brett Deledio (calf), Jeremy Cameron (hamstring)
