Ruckman Tom Downie will play his first AFL game in almost two years as one of four changes to the GIANTS side to play Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.
Downie comes into the side after a best-on-ground performance for the UWS GIANTS in the NEAFL before the bye. A former Under-17s Australian basketballer, 203cm Downie was selected by the GIANTS with pick 56 in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft and has played just one AFL game, debuting in round 20, 2013.
“He’s really competitive, which is great,” said coach Leon Cameron.
“You can clearly see that he wants to be one of those young rucks that takes the opportunity that’s been created with Mumford’s injury.
“In the end we just couldn’t hold him back. He’s obviously got a huge task with Rory Lobb to take on (Ivan) Maric who I rate as probably one of the best three or four ruckmen in the competition.
“What a great opportunity to play at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.”
Vice-captain Tom Scully returns to the side after missing the round 12 clash against North Melbourne with illness while defenders Curtly Hampton and Adam Kennedy have also been included.
“Hampton and Kennedy’s form has been really good at NEAFL level so those guys get that opportunity to play down in the backline,” Cameron said.
“We know we’re going in a little bit undersized because Richmond have got three big talls. We’ve got to make sure that we bring that ball to the ground, make sure that we can push back hard and help out our defence.”
Josh Kelly, Nathan Wilson and Tommy Bugg have been omitted with Nick Haynes ruled out earlier in the week with groin soreness.
“Josh is probably a little bit stiff, we’ve gone with our two ruckmen,” Cameron said.
“Josh will find his way back into the team; he’s a good young kid, he’s a quality kid. He’s a big part of the future of our footy club.”
Both teams have seven wins and five losses coming into the game with the sixth-placed Tigers one of the form sides of the competition having won five of their last six games.
“They’re a really good side, Damien (Hardwick) has got them playing some great footy,” Cameron said.
“They’re competitive, obviously they’ve knocked off some really good sides.
“The challenge for us is to get rolling early and make sure that we’re really competitive around the centre bounce, competitive around the stoppages and making sure that we put our head over the footy and get that contested ball back on our side.”
The GIANTS play Richmond at the MCG on Saturday at 1.40pm with live coverage on 7mate in NSW and the ACT and Fox Footy (channel 504) from 1.30pm. Follow the game live on the GIANTS Game Hub or keep up to date on Twitter and Facebook.
Richmond Tigers v GWS GIANTS
Saturday July 4, 1.40pm
Melbourne Cricket Ground
GWS GIANTS
FB: Zac Williams, Aidan Corr, Heath Shaw
HB: Curtly Hampton, Matt Buntine, Adam Kennedy
C: Toby Greene, Ryan Griffen, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Rhys Palmer, Cam McCarthy, Tom Scully
FF: Dylan Shiel, Jeremy Cameron, Devon Smith
R: Rory Lobb, Callan Ward, Adam Treloar
Interchange: Caleb Marchbank, James Stewart, Jack Steele, Tom Downie
In: Tom Scully, Tom Downie, Curtly Hampton, Adam Kennedy
Out: Nick Haynes (groin), Josh Kelly, Tommy Bugg, Nathan Wilson (omitted)
Emergencies: Jed Lamb, Paul Ahern, Josh Kelly
Tom to Tackle Tigers
Ruckman Tom Downie will play his first AFL game in almost two years as one of four changes to the GIANTS side to play Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.
