The GIANTS have made one change for this Saturday’s Sydney Derby IX, recalling 198-game defender Joel Patfull.
Patfull comes in to replace young defender Caleb Marchbank who will miss the next 6-8 weeks after suffering a syndesmotic ankle injury in the GIANTS' victory over Geelong.
The 31-year-old veteran has been in strong form in the NEAFL and has been among the best in the backline for the WSU GIANTS.
Coach Leon Cameron said he was excited to welcome Patfull back to the senior side.
“We know he’s an experienced player, he’s been in the system for about 11 years,” Cameron said.
“He had an injury-interrupted pre-season with his shoulder and then he had his foot issue but he’s played a lot of game time in the NEAFL over the past few weeks.
“We’re confident he’s ready to roll and the boys look forward to him playing on Saturday afternoon.”
Saturday’s Sydney Derby IX shaped up as one of the most anticipated cross-town clashes with the GIANTS coming off a historic win over Geelong and the Swans starting their season with two successive wins.
The GIANTS’ midfield group of Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio, Ryan Griffen, Dylan Shiel and Tom Scully come up against the Swans’ Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Tom Mitchell, Dan Hannebery and Kieren Jack.
“Normally the game is won in the midfield and we come up against one of the best midfields in the competition in terms of consistency, you know they rock up every week,” Cameron said.
“We need to rock up again this week, we can’t be up for one week and down for the next.”
WATCH: ROUND 3 INSIGHT WITH LEON CAMERON
It’s hard to believe but with the GIANTS bringing in the experienced Patfull, the GIANTS could go into Saturday’s clash with a more experienced line-up than the Swans this week.
It’s a big turn-around from the first Sydney Derby in round one, 2012 after the GIANTS have added the likes of Shane Mumford, Heath Shaw, Ryan Griffen, Steve Johnson and Patfull to the side over the past few seasons.
“More experience hopefully holds you in good stead when these tough games come around but in saying that, the Swans have still got a good, experienced line up and have added a number of young players to their list that have some serious talent,” Cameron said.
“All in all, it holds for a really good game on Saturday. It’s a lop-sided scoresheet at the moment at 7-1 and we’ve got to make sure we compete from the first bounce.”
The GIANTS are yet to win at the SCG but last year’s contest there was a closely-fought one with the GIANTS going down by just 21-points.
In the NAB Challenge this year the tables were turned as the GIANTS downed the Swans with some scintillating football to win by 34-points at Drummoyne Oval.
Cameron said he hoped GIANTS members and fans would take advantage of discounted ticket offers to help turn the SCG orange and support the team on Saturday.
“Our membership is building, our support is building and it will be a great to see a lot of supporters at the game and I think we will,” he said.
“I think there’ll be a really, really big crowd. As every year goes on, you want these to be packed out.
“We know Swans supporters will be there and I encourage all GIANTS supporters to get there and barrack for our team and hopefully we can do them proud.”
GWS GIANTS
FB: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Matt Buntine
HB: Nathan Wilson, Aidan Corr, Will Hoskin-Elliott
C: Lachie Whitfield, Toby Greene, Adam Kennedy
HF: Devon Smith, Jonathon Patton, Steve Johnson
FF: Ryan Griffen, Rory Lobb, Tom Scully
RR: Shane Mumford, Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly
Interchange: Joel Patfull, Callan Ward, Dylan Shiel, Rhys Palmer
Emergencies: Jacob Hopper, Adam Tomlinson, Zac Williams
Saturday’s match is an away game for the GIANTS but members can get 15 per cent off tickets by using their 12-digit member barcode when purchasing tickets here. Select Category 3 and Bay 2 to sit with GIANTS fans.
The GIANTS take on the Swans in round three on Saturday, April 9 at the SCG at 4.35pm.
