The GIANTS have named a strong team for Saturday’s clash against Geelong at GIANTS Stadium as the 2020 AFL season gets underway.
As revealed on Wednesday, 19-year-old midfielder and last year’s number 10 draft pick Tom Green will make his AFL debut and play his first game in orange and charcoal.
“It’s a huge tick for a young kid coming in in his first year to be picked in round one. It’s really exciting for us as a footy club,” coach Leon Cameron said.
After a great performance in the last Marsh Community Series match against Richmond, young defender Isaac Cumming has been rewarded with a half-back spot.
“Isaac really put his hand up after some great pre-season form, he’s earned his spot at half-back,” Cameron said.
It’s a settled line up with 17 of the 22 playing in last year’s AFL Grand Final.
Sam Jacobs takes the ruck spot for round one after crossing from Adelaide in the off-season, bringing a wealth of experience to the role and keeping warrior Shane Mumford out of the side.
New captain Stephen Coniglio returns for his first game since a knee injury in round 17 last year while Zac Langdon has regained his forward line spot after an injury-interrupted 2019 season.
“Zac has had a faultless pre-season,” Cameron said.
“He did everything right and really deserves his spot in the team.”
Running half-back Zac Williams will play in a NEAFL practice match against the Swans after achilles tendonitis delayed his pre-season post-Christmas.
“We decided to give him another week of training and playing in the NEAFL,” Cameron said.
“Hopefully we’ll have him available and back for round two.”
The GIANTS will play 16 players in the NEAFL match against the Swans, including Mumford and number four draft pick Lachie Ash.
Coach Cameron said despite the uncertainty of this week, he and his players are ready and raring to go at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday night.
“We know all our GIANTS fans - and fans of every team across the matches this weekend - would love to be there but we’ll be giving everything we’ve got and we know we’ve got their support behind us.”
Round 1
GIANTS v Geelong
Saturday, March 21 at 7:40pm
GIANTS Stadium
FB: Aidan Corr, Sam Taylor, Nick Haynes
HB: Harry Perryman, Phil Davis, Isaac Cumming
C: Daniel Lloyd, Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Zac Langdon, Jeremy Cameron, Matt de Boer
FF: Brent Daniels, Jeremy Finlayson, Harry Himmelberg
Ruck: Sam Jacobs, Josh Kelly, Jacob Hopper
Interchange: Heath Shaw, Adam Kennedy, Toby Greene, Tom Green
Emergencies: Jackson Hately, Sam Reid, Shane Mumford, Lachie Ash
