After a long and gruelling pre-season, the squad to face the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval has been named with plenty of fresh faces.
As revealed on Tuesday in a heart-warming phone call to his Dad, last year’s number two draft pick Tim Taranto will make his AFL debut.
“I’d kind of known I was in the mix for a couple of weeks but I really didn’t know,” Taranto said on Thursday.
“I had a few meetings with Leon in the lead up but he wasn’t giving anything away.
“When we had that meeting on Tuesday I was just rapt so I’m really excited.”
Young midfielder Matt Kennedy, who played three games in his first season last year, has been named on the field and will play his fourth game of AFL football.
Another new face who could pull on the orange and charcoal for the first time is recruit Tendai Mzungu who has impressed across the pre-season following 102 games for Fremantle.
Also named in the squad is ruckman Dawson Simpson who is in his second year on the GIANTS’ list but yet to pull on the jumper.
He’s been listed on the extended interchange with recently upgraded rookie Sam Reid.
Leon Cameron said his side was under no illusions about the challenge his side faces at a ground where they’ve won just one game previously.
“Adelaide in Adelaide, in front of 50,000 supporters, they very rarely get beaten at home so it’s going to be a huge challenge for us.
“We look forward to it and no doubt they do too.”
The final 22 to face the Crows will be revealed on gwsgiants.com.au at 5pm on Friday.
The GIANTS take on the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, March 26 at 3.20pm (AEST) with live coverage nationally on Channel 7 and Fox Footy and 7mate in NSW and the ACT.
Round 1
Adelaide Crows v GWS GIANTS
Sunday, March 26 at 3.20pm
Adelaide Oval
GWS GIANTS
FB: Zac Williams, Phil Davis, Adam Tomlinson
HB: Heath Shaw, Nick Haynes, Ryan Griffen
C: Adam Kennedy, Dylan Shiel, Josh Kelly
HF: Steve Johnson, Jonathon Patton, Rory Lobb
FF: Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Tom Scully
RR: Shane Mumford, Callan Ward, Matt Kennedy
Interchange (from): Devon Smith, Tim Taranto, Matt Buntine, Nathan Wilson, Tendai Mzungu, Dawson Simpson, Sam Reid
