Number one draft pick Tom Boyd will play his third AFL match when the GIANTS host Carlton at Spotless Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park this Sunday.
Boyd comes into the side following some strong NEAFL form, which has seen the 18-year old kick 10 goals in the last three weeks.
He’s one of three inclusions to the GIANTS side with Adam Kennedy and Kristian Jaksch returning to the line-up.
All Australian forward Jeremy Cameron (ankle), midfielder Tom Scully (hamstring) and Jacob Townsend (omitted) go out of the GIANTS side that defeated Brisbane by 45-points in Round 13.
GIANTS Head Coach Leon Cameron said he took the cautious approach with Jeremy Cameron.
“Yesterday when we had a look at him we thought he was a 70-30 chance, but today when we had another look we thought that another 48 hours probably isn’t going to see him get up for the game,” he said.
“We didn’t want to take a risk with an injured player and it’s disappointing because Jeremy has kind of been going one week on, one week off so it would have been good to get a bit of continuity. and he’s back in form, but it opens up the door to give Tom (Boyd) a great opportunity.”
Cameron said the injury to Jeremy Cameron opens an opportunity for Tom Boyd to return to the AFL.
“His defensive pressure, his leading patterns and work rate are all getting better and we know it’s going to go up and down as he’s a first year player and we understand the big guys take a little bit more time than midfielders but we’re rapt he’s back in the side.
“Unfortunately Tom Scully has hurt his hamstring at the back end of training yesterday and we don’t want to risk what might be a two week injury, but we’re not quite sure about that yet.
“It’s disappointing as Tom’s last four weeks have been terrific but again when one goes down, another player gets an opportunity,”
Cameron says the GIANTS will have to stop the Carlton midfield to win back to back games for the first time in the club's history.
“There’s no doubt having Murphy, Gibbs and Carrazzo and those sorts of midfielders that roll through there that they’re going to be really hard to stop, but we’re confident that Treloar, Ward, Shiel, Coniglio and these sort of guys can really take it up to their midfield.”
The GIANTS play Carlton at Spotless Stadium on Sunday afternoon at 1.10pm. The match will be shown live in NSW and the ACT on Fox Footy and 7mate.
GWS GIANTS v Carlton
Sunday June 22, 1.10pm
Spotless Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park
B: Tomas Bugg, Phil Davis, Heath Shaw
HB: Josh Hunt, Tim Mohr, Sam Frost
C: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Adam Treloar, Josh Kelly
HF: Lachie Whitfield, Jonathon Patton, Callan Ward
F: Tom Boyd, Adam Tomlinson, Devon Smith
R: Shane Mumford, Rhys Palmer, Dylan Shiel
I/C: Stephen Coniglio, Adam Kennedy, Kristian Jaksch, Nathan Wilson
In: Kristian Jaksch, Tom Boyd, Adam Kennedy
Out: Jeremy Cameron (ankle), Tom Scully (hamstring), Jacob Townsend (omitted)
