Nick Haynes, Zac Langdon and Jackson Hately return to the GIANTS side for their first regular-season Thursday night clash against Essendon at Marvel Stadium.
Haynes returns ahead of schedule from an ankle injury suffered against Adelaide in round 12 with the important intercepting defender taking up his customary role in the backline.
Haynes missed the opening round clash with the Bombers after a pre-season back injury but had played every game since, with the competition starting to recognise his elite defensive skills.
“We were thinking maybe he was a chance to be ready for this game,” coach Leon Cameron said.
“He’s trained really well for the last three sessions, pulled up really well and good to see he’s ready to roll.”
Langdon’s scintillating NEAFL form has proven too hard to ignore with the live-wire forward kicking six goals over the past four games.
After missing just three games through injury in his debut season as a mature-age recruit last year, a pre-season foot injury affected the 23-year-old’s start to the season.
He returned to the senior side in round eight before soreness struck but since then has played the last four games in a row, kicking two goals and named best on ground in his last outing.
“He’s been in really good form,” Cameron said.
“He played a lot of regular footy for us last year and his forward pressure’s no doubt the key to his game.
“He’s in good nick and he hits the scoreboard, he’s knocked the door down and we take a very in-form player into the team.”
Young draftee Hately also returns to the side for his third senior game this season after making his debut in round five.
Unlucky to be go out of the side, the 18-year-old’s inclusion will keep SuperCoach and Fantasy players happy with hundreds of requests for the youngster’s inclusion filling the club’s inbox.
Hately has averaged almost 28 touches a game in the NEAFL over his eight games at that level.
"He’s been a bit unlucky not to have played more footy,” Cameron said.
"Obviously the senior team’s been strong for most of the year. It’s good for players to do some hard yards and learn and understand what AFL footy is about.
“He comes in off the back of some really good form and we’re really rapt with that. When he has played AFL footy he doesn’t look out of place so he’s keen to get going Thursday night and we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
Cameron knows it’s another big test for his side who are playing their first regular-season Thursday night clash.
“It’s a huge game, you get a chance to play night footy in Melbourne on a Thursday night or Friday night,” he said.
“We understand the stakes are huge, Essendon will have a good crowd and they’ll want to respond.
“We need to keep winning to maintain our spot and the second half of the year starts for us so it’s exciting times.”
Essendon v GIANTS
Thursday, June 27 at 7:20pm
Marvel Stadium
FB: Zac Williams, Phil Davis, Adam Kennedy
HB: Harry Perryman, Nick Haynes, Heath Shaw
C: Adam Tomlinson, Jacob Hopper, Sam Reid
HF: Zac Langdon, Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene
FF: Jeremy Finlayson, Harry Himmelberg, Brent Daniels
RR: Shane Mumford, Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly
Interchange: Tim Taranto, Jackson Hately, Sam Taylor, Brett Deledio
In: Nick Haynes, Jackson Hately, Zac Langdon
Out: Matt de Boer (shoulder), Matt Buntine, Jake Stein (omitted)
Emergencies: Matt Buntine, Dawson Simpson, Ian Hill, Jake Stein
