The GIANTS have made two changes to their side to face the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Midfielder Dylan Shiel (groin) and defender Adam Kennedy (omitted) will miss the round 20 clash against the Suns with former number one draft pick Lachie Whitfield and recently re-signed defender Nick Haynes to return for the GIANTS.
“Dylan Shiel’s got a groin issue so he’s not going to play which is disappointing,” said coach Leon Cameron.
“In comes Lachie Whitfield who gets his opportunity after being out for three or four weeks with illness and Nick Haynes comes back into the team for an unlucky Adam Kennedy.”
Heading into this week’s team selection, Cameron had a whopping 39 players to choose from with just four players on the club’s official injury list.
“It’s the first time we’ve had these dilemmas in eight or nine weeks because of the amount of injuries we’ve had during the middle part of the year,” Cameron said.
“Hopefully, touch wood, we can have a really healthy list coming into the back end of the year.
“This week, having I think 39 to choose from is really pleasing. It means the competition for spots in the AFL side is at an all-time high.”
Whitfield returns to the side after being a late withdrawal for the round 17 match against the Lions with tonsillitis.
“He’s back now, he played a game against the Swans’ NEAFL side two weeks ago and played some really good footy,” Cameron said.
“He had another really good week on the track last week and we expect him to come in and play his role on Saturday.”
Haynes also returns from illness with the 24-year-old hit by gastro, forcing him out of last week’s clash with the Tigers.
“He’s really hit some form over the past few weeks. It was disappointing he caught some of the gastro bug that went through the club last week and forced him out last weekend,” Cameron said.
“He’s played some good footy, we look forward to him coming back into the team. He’s trained really, really well and he’ll take up his customary role in the back six.”
The second-placed GIANTS head north to take on the 14th-placed Suns on Saturday afternoon.
The last time these two sides met in round eight, the GIANTS recorded their highest-ever winning margin at Spotless Stadium.
With just four games in the regular season to go, Cameron knows there’s no taking the foot off the pedal.
“Our most important game that we’ve got is this Saturday,” he said.
“It’s pleasing that we’re heading in the right direction but we understand that every game we have to rock up and play really competitive footy.
“We’ve got an appetite to do that and we need to make sure we deliver on that.”
The GIANTS take on the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium at 4.35pm on Saturday afternoon with live coverage on 7mate across NSW and the ACT and Fox Footy all around Australia.
2011 number one draft pick Jon Patton is set to play his 50th AFL game in the clash with the Suns.
Gold Coast Suns v GWS GIANTS
Saturday August 6, 4,35pm
Metricon Stadium
GWS GIANTS
FB: Phil Davis, Joel Patfull, Nick Haynes
HB: Zac Williams, Heath Shaw, Nathan Wilson
C: Josh Kelly, Callan Ward, Adam Tomlinson
HF: Sam Reid, Jeremy Cameron, Steve Johnson
FF: Devon Smith, Jonathon Patton, Toby Greene
RR: Rory Lobb, Stephen Coniglio, Ryan Griffen
Interchange: Shane Mumford, Lachie Whitfield, Harry Himmelberg, Tom Scully
In: Lachie Whitfield, Nick Haynes
Out: Dylan Shiel (groin), Adam Kennedy (omitted)
Emergencies: Matt Kennedy, James Stewart, Adam Kennedy
