Youngster Jye Caldwell has forced his way into the GIANTS line-up for Sunday’s clash against the Kangaroos.
The second-year midfielder debuted in the snow at UNSW Canberra Oval last season and played two matches before missing out on the finals series.
After an injury-interrupted few years, Caldwell has had his best run of training and match simulation since arriving at the club, forcing coach Leon Cameron to include him for Sunday’s clash at GIANTS Stadium.
“It was a really tough selection this week,” Cameron said.
“Jye’s presented himself in great nick when he’s come back. He’s a tough inside midfielder who really gets after the opposition and tackles hard and wins his own ball.
“That was a really tough one, because there were a number of players in Jackson Hately and Tom Green lining up for that spot.”
Caldwell is included in the side alongside former skipper Callan Ward - who makes his return from an ACL injury suffered in round four last season.
He gets a full endorsement from Ward who said after last week’s intra-club match: “Jye Caldwell’s just an animal.”
Cameron said he was excited to welcome back Ward and Williams, who missed round one.
“Callan Ward clearly comes into the team and Zac Williams, who’s got that flexibility to play half-back, inside-mid or forward," he said.
"Like probably every club, there’s been tough selection choices because you’d got a list of 40 to pick from so it’s been interesting.”
The trio are included for Adam Kennedy (hamstring), Zac Langdon and Tom Green (omitted).
“We’re prepared, we look forward to the Kangaroos,” Cameron said.
"We’re under no illusions as to how hard this game will be.
“We’ve had some really hard battles in the last three or four years and this will be no different on Sunday.”
The GIANTS will run out on Sunday in front of around 350 GIANTS fans dotted around the function rooms and suites at GIANTS Stadium as the rules and regulations around crowds continue to ease.
Round 2
GIANTS v North Melbourne
Sunday, June 14 at 1:05pm
GIANTS Stadium
Live on Channel 7 in Sydney and Fox Footy nationally
Final Team
FB: Nick Haynes, Aidan Corr, Sam Taylor
HB: Isaac Cumming, Phil Davis, Zac Williams
C: Harry Perryman, Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Josh Kelly, Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene
FF: Brent Daniels, Jeremy Finlayson, Harry Himmelberg
RR: Sam Jacobs, Jacob Hopper, Matt de Boer
Interchange: Heath Shaw, Callan Ward, Daniel Lloyd, Jye Caldwell
In: Zac Williams, Callan Ward, Jye Caldwell
Out: Adam Kennedy (injured), Zac Langdon, Tom Green (omitted)
Emergencies: Zac Langdon, Tom Green, Jackson Hately, Shane Mumford
