The GIANTS will blood another Academy product as one of four inclusions on an extended interchange bench for the trip north to face the Lions in Brisbane.
Young defender Harry Himmelberg has been confirmed as the GIANTS’ third debutant of the season after being told by Leon Cameron he’d be playing his first game on Thursday morning.
Originally a mobile forward, the 20-year-old was selected with pick 16 at the 2015 NAB AFL Draft after the GIANTS matched a bid from Adelaide for the GIANTS Academy graduate.
Himmelberg is the third GIANTS Academy product to debut this year, behind number seven pick Jacob Hopper and number 13 pick Matthew Kennedy.
An over-age draftee, Himmelberg relocated from Mangoplah in the NSW Riverina and spent last season playing for Eastlake in the NEAFL.
Standing at 194cm and 87kg, Himmelberg has turned into a defender since arriving at the GIANTS and impressed with his ability to read the ball as well as his strong marking and clean foot skills.
Sam Reid, Daniel Lloyd and Caleb Marchbank have also been included on an extended interchange bench, which will be trimmed to four when the final team is named at 5pm on Friday.
Forward Reid has played two games this season after coming out of retirement to take up a spot on the club’s rookie list.
Fellow former rookie and midfielder Daniel Lloyd could be in line to also make his AFL debut if selected in the final side. The former carpenter had 38 touches in a best on ground performance for the WSU GIANTS last weekend.
Young defender Caleb Marchbank made a successful return from an ankle injury in the NEAFL last weekend, collecting 22 disposals, and could also return to the side for just his third game of the season.
The only confirmed out at this stage is forward Rhys Palmer who has been omitted.
The seventh-placed GIANTS take on the 17th-placed Lions in a Sunday twilight match at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Brisbane Lions v GWS GIANTS
Sunday July 17, 4.40pm
The Gabba
GWS GIANTS
FB: Nick Haynes, Joel Patfull, Heath Shaw
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Phil Davis, Adam Kennedy
C: Adam Tomlinson, Callan Ward, Zac Williams
HF: Steve Johnson, Jeremy Cameron, Rory Lobb
FF: Dylan Shiel, Jonathon Patton, Devon Smith
RR: Shane Mumford, Stephen Coniglio, Tom Scully
Interchange (from): Josh Kelly, Caleb Marchbank, Daniel Lloyd, Sam Reid, Jack Steele, Harry Himmelberg, Toby Greene
In: Harry Himmelberg, Caleb Marchbank, Daniel Lloyd, Sam Reid
Out: Rhys Palmer (omitted)
The final team will be named on gwsgiants.com.au at 5pm on Friday.
