The WSU GIANTS have named their side to take on the Sydney Swans Reserves in the 2016 NEAFL Grand Final on Sunday at Blacktown International Sportspark.
The GIANTS will be without Jack Steele after the midfielder broke a bone in his foot during training at Tom Wills Oval on Tuesday.
Steele starred in the WSU GIANTS’ 87-point Preliminary Final win over Sydney University last Sunday, collecting 41 possessions and kicking a goal.
However, the GIANTS will be boosted by the inclusions of three AFL listed players; defender Pat McKenna, midfielder Jake Barrett and forward/ruckman Matthew Flynn.
The trio return to the side after NEAFL rules restricted the GIANTS to playing 15 AFL listed players against Sydney University.
With both the GIANTS and the Swans being AFL reserves teams, the GIANTS are free to field as many AFL listed players as they wish.
The Swans have named a strong line up with 19 AFL listed players included.
Experienced pair Ted Richards and Jeremy Laidler will bolster the Swans defence, while Harry Cunningham will boost the Swans' midfield alongside Dan Robinson and Brandon Jack.
Brett Hand, the GIANTS' Head of Development and Welfare, said the GIANTS’ first NEAFL Grand Final will be tough.
“They’ve got 19 listed players and we’ve got nearly the same,” he said.
“They’ve got a number of boys that want to play AFL footy and they’ve got a number of experienced players back in the twos as well as us.
“There’s a lot to play for, for those guys but more importantly there’s a NEAFL Premiership as well.”
Six Academy players will take to the field for the WSU GIANTS and Hand believes they’ve settled into the side well.
“I think the consistency of having them play week in and week out is great,” Hand said.
“Our boys accommodate them really well and they feel like part of the group.”
Sunday’s Grand Final is the first the WSU GIANTS have reached in the NEAFL.
Hand believes reaching the Grand Final is the culmination of years of hard work and they’ll be out to win some valuable silverware.
“Any Grand Final is a Grand Final, when you get to that at any level everyone is going to try and win it,” he said
“We’re there this year and you can see the excitement in the players last week, knowing that they’re in the grand final.
“We expect the swans to be feeling the same way, we look forward to the challenge.”
Grand Final
Swans Reserves v WSU GIANTS
Sunday September 11, 1.30pm
Blacktown International Sportspark
WSU GIANTS
FB: Aidan Corr, Tim Mohr, Pat McKenna
HB: Harrison Himmelberg, Matt Buntine, Adam Kennedy
C: Jeremy Finlayson, Rhys Palmer, Will Hoskin-Elliott
HF: Sam Reid, James Stewart, Jake Barrett
FF: Connor Byrne, Matthew Flynn, Tom Downie
RR: Dawson Simpson, Matt Kennedy, Daniel Lloyd
Interchange: Harrison Macreadie, Connor Owen-Auburn, Sam Fisher, Jack Powell, Lucas Meline
SWANS RESERVES
B: Lewis Melican, Abe Davis, Jeremy Laidler
HB: Nic Newman, Ted Richards, Zak Jones
C: Jack Hiscox, Brandon Jack, Harry Cunningham
HF: James Rose, Jordan Dawson, Dean Towers
F: Sam Murray, Toby Nankervis, Tyrone Leonardis
Foll: Tom Derickx, Jordan Foote, Daniel Robinson
Inter: Matt Wilson, Darcy Baron-Hay, Kyle Galloway, Nathan Cooper, Ryan Hebron
Meet our GIANTS Academy Players:
47. Harrison Macreadie
Macreadie is an AFL Academy member who is from Henty in NSW and has played seven games for the WSU GIANTS this year as a defender.
46. Connor Byrne
Byrne, from Wagga Wagga, represented the NSW/ACT Rams at the Under-18 National Championships and has played nine NEAFL games this year. He is a small midfielder/forward who can run all day and tackles well.
45. Sam Fisher
Fisher, from Canberra, represented the NSW/ACT Rams this year at the Under-18 National Championships, represented the Allies and has been invited to the National Draft Combine. He plays as a small/medium forward and has played five games with the WSU GIANTS this season.
52. Connor Owen-Auburn
Owen-Auburn is from Western Sydney and plays on the wing but can play back and forward as well. He has played 12 games for the WSU GIANTS this season.
53. Jack Powell
Powell is a 17-year-old from Canberra who has played five games for the WSU GIANTS this year. He is a member of the AFL Academy and plays as a small midfielder/forward who knows how to find the ball.
54. Lucas Meline
Meline is from Canberra and has played eight games with the WSU GIANTS this season. He is a reliable defender who has adapted to the GIANTS’ game plan well.
