The GIANTS have been strengthened by the return of co-captain Phil Davis and All Australian full forward Jeremy Cameron for their clash against Brisbane at the GABBA on Saturday.
Cameron returns after a one week suspension, while Davis will play his first match since the GIANTS' win over the Swans in Round 1 at Spotless Stadium.
Davis spent nearly two weeks in hospital, including eight days in intensive care, after seriously injuring his kidney.
The GIANTS have made four changes with premiership defender Josh Hunt and NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Joshua Kelly also coming back into the side.
Defender Curtly Hampton is out with a shoulder injury that will sideline him for six weeks while Rory Lobb, Kristian Jaksch and Jed Lamb have all been omitted.
Coach Leon Cameron welcomed Davis back to the side after he played for the UWS GIANTS in the NEAFL last week.
"He’s had a long lay off of 12 weeks but he’s worked extremely hard the last six or seven weeks in his rehab and played very well in his NEAFL game last week and comes in to take up his full back spot,” Cameron said.
"Rory Lobb, Kristian Jaksch and Jed Lamb have been good for us at AFL level, but unfortunately for them, Phil Davis and Jeremy Cameron have come back into the team to take up their spots and we couldn’t ignore Josh Kelly’s 44 disposals and four goals for the UWS GIANTS in the NEAFL last week."
"Our last two weeks have been really competitive performances. And if we can take that same effort and energy into this weeks game against the Brisbane Lions, it’ll hold us in really good stead.
"The Brisbane Lions are coming off two very good wins but I’m confident that with our last two weeks’ performances, that we can take it right up to them,” he said.
The GIANTS play Brisbane at the GABBA on Saturday night at 7.40pm. The match will be shown live in NSW and the ACT on Fox Footy and 7mate.
GWS GIANTS v Brisbane Lions
Saturday June 14, 7.40pm
The GABBA
FB: Adam Kennedy, Phil Davis, Sam Frost
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Tim Mohr, Heath Shaw
C: Adam Tomlinson, Rhys Palmer, Will Hoskin-Elliott
HF: Tom Scully, Jeremy Cameron, Devon Smith
FF: Jacob Townsend, Jonathon Patton, Josh Hunt
R: Shane Mumford, Callan Ward, Dylan Shiel
Interchange: Aidan Corr, Adam Treloar, Stephen Coniglio, Joshua Kelly
Emergencies: Tomas Bugg, Nathan Wilson, Jed Lamb
In: Jeremy Cameron, Phil Davis, Josh Hunt, Joshua Kelly
Out: Curtly Hampton (shoulder), Jed Lamb, Kristian Jaksch, Rory Lobb (omitted)
