Devon Smith returns to the GIANTS line up as one of four changes to the side to face Collingwood at Spotless Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The GIANTS have been hit hard on the medical front this week with Ryan Griffen, Nathan Wilson and Matt Buntine all ruled out of the round 16 game with injury.
Buntine injured his hamstring in the win over Carlton a fortnight ago and was ruled out for 2-3 weeks.
Wilson has failed to recover from groin soreness after the week off for the bye while Griffen strained a hamstring at training on Wednesday and was unable to finish the session.
Co-captain Phil Davis will take his place in the GIANTS’ line-up after hurting his calf in the round 14 match against the Blues and with the bye won’t miss a game.
“He trained flat out yesterday, he’s pulled up really well today and we expect him to play,” said coach Leon Cameron.
“He knows his body really well, we back our doctors and physios and him to make that call. It’s great to have a key person back down in the back half of the ground.”
Into the side come small forward Smith, defender Adam Kennedy, midfielder Jack Steele and utility Adam Tomlinson.
Smith had knee surgery in May and returns after picking up 17 possessions in a half in the NEAFL prior to the bye.
“We thought we were going to give him another one in the NEAFL but he’s trained really well over the past two weeks,” Cameron said.
“The knee he had operated on has really rehabbed well.
“He’s strong, he's really fit, he makes us a better team because of the pressure he provides in our front half and he’s really keen and eager to make his mark in the back end of the year.”
Defender Adam Kennedy also returns after missing three games with a shoulder injury sustained in a heavy clash against Adelaide in round 10.
“He’s been a good performer for us in the back seven,” Cameron said.
“He’s looking forward to getting back into some senior footy. He played well in the NEAFL for a game, he’s fully recovered from the fall he had in the Adelaide game and he’s looking forward to playing some good footy for us.”
VISIT OUR MULTICULTURAL ROUND HUB
Tomlinson and Steele have been rewarded for strong NEAFL form with Tomlinson kicking three goals in his last outing for the WSU GIANTS while Steele was named best on ground with 37 touches.
“It’s well documented that Adam Tomlinson’s been fairly unlucky throughout the year,” Cameron said.
“He just continues to play really good footy. Our team has played some good footy and it’s been hard to get into.
“Jack Steele’s progressing really well, he had seven or eight games last year, this will be his ninth game this year.
“For a second year player he’s heading in the right direction, he’s been playing really good footy at NEAFL level too.
“He was a bit stiff to go out of the team so he’s really keen to get a piece of midfield action this week and there’s no doubt that’s going to happen.”
Young Academy draftee Matt Kennedy has been omitted after playing two games since making his AFL debut in round 13 against Essendon.
The third-placed GIANTS haven’t beaten the 11th-placed Pies in four attempts and while they enter the clash as red-hot favourites, Cameron is wary of a much-improved Collingwood outfit.
“We play a team that’s in form, since their bye they’ve played some really good footy,” he said.
“Defensively they’ve been the best in the competition the last two weeks because they’re not allowing the opposition to score.
“It’s going to be challenging in that part of the game but we’re looking forward to getting underway after we had our spell.”
GWS GIANTS v Collingwood
Saturday July 9, 1.40pm
Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park
GWS GIANTS
FB: Joel Patfull, Phil Davis, Heath Shaw
HB: Adam Kennedy, Zac Williams, Nick Haynes
C: Jack Steele, Stephen Coniglio, Tom Scully
HF: Jonathon Patton, Rory Lobb, Lachie Whitfield
FF: Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Steve Johnson
RR: Shane Mumford, Callan Ward, Dylan Shiel
Interchange: Josh Kelly, Devon Smith, Adam Tomlinson, Rhys Palmer
In: Devon Smith, Adam Kennedy, Adam Tomlinson, Jack Steele
Out: Ryan Griffen (hamstring), Nathan Wilson (groin), Matt Buntine (hamstring), Matt Kennedy (omitted)
Emergencies: Matt Kennedy, Tom Downie, Harry Himmelberg
The GIANTS are proud to celebrate the 2016 Toyota AFL Multicultural Round at Spotless Stadium on Saturday, highlighting the contribution multicultural communities have made to the game’s history and welcoming new communities to embrace Australian Football.
We’ve got fun and festivities all day with a FREE AFL Multicultural Festival in Cathy Freeman Park outside Spotless Stadium from 11am-7pm.
The Festival, presented by Australia Post, including rides, food stalls, AFL clinics, Multicultural workshops, Arabic Drummers, Bollywood dancing as well as performances from Justice Crew and Western Sydney hip-hop artist L-FRESH The LION.
