The GIANTS have three big inclusions for a blockbuster showdown with Richmond at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Star midfielder Josh Kelly will play his first game of the 2019 season, Shane Mumford will play his first game since retiring at the end of 2017 and Tommy Sheridan will play his first game in GIANTS colours.
Everything's Bigger Up Close. Don't miss the GIANTS' clash with Richmond at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday. Get your tickets by clicking here.
Kelly returns to the GIANTS side after being declared fully fit following off-season hip and knee surgeries.
“Josh is excited to start his campaign in 2019, he’s itching at the bit,” said coach Leon Cameron.
"No doubt there’ll be some nerves because it’s his first game in a little while but his last eight or nine weeks have been really good and we look forward to seeing him back out there."
The remarkable return of hulking ruckman Mumford comes to fruition on Saturday at GIANTS Stadium.
“We look forward to Shane playing after 18 months out of the game,” Cameron said.
"It’s a huge achievement, firstly, to come out of retirement. We’re not expecting miracles, we expect him to come in and play his role.
“We know he has a huge motor, he plays the ruck role well, he can get around the ground and play as an extra on-baller when the ball hits the ground.
“I think everyone is looking to see how he progresses in his first game back. He deserves the opportunity, he’s in good form and we wait and see on Saturday.”
Former Docker Sheridan becomes GIANT number 92 when he pulls on the GIANTS jumper for the first time this weekend.
“We know he’s got a huge motor and he’s got that ability to cover ground and play wing, forward or back so he’s got that flexibility,” Cameron said.
“He’s settled well, he’s trained well, he had a huge pre-season and he’s one of our best runners already at the club and that’s what we’ll need on Saturday afternoon.”
Lachlan Keeffe and Dawson Simpson have been omitted while veteran Brett Deledio is out with a calf strain.
“He pulled up a bit sore after the trip to Perth so underwent scans today which showed a strain,” Cameron said.
“Over the next few days we’ll work out a timeline for his return which hopefully won’t be too far away.”
The Tigers will be without Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt for the first time since 2009 but that doesn’t mean the coach is taking them lightly.
“It’s a huge clash,” Cameron said.
“We were disappointed last week, we were in the game, we didn’t capitalise, we burnt the ball and then we dropped away in the last part of the second quarter which really hurt us so that was disappointing.
“But we move on - we trained well this week, we look forward to the Tigers at GIANTS Stadium.
“We know the past couple of years it’s come down to the wire in both clashes so it’s going to be a really tight game.”
The GIANTS take on Richmond at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday at 4:35pm, get your tickets from Ticketmaster.
Round 3
GIANTS v Richmond
Saturday April 6 at 4:35pm
GIANTS Stadium
FB: Adam Kennedy, Phil Davis, Zac Williams
HB: Nick Haynes, Sam Taylor, Matt Buntine
C: Josh Kelly, Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Adam Tomlinson, Jeremy Cameron, Matt de Boer
FF: Brent Daniels, Harry Himmelberg, Sam Reid
RR: Shane Mumford, Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto
Interchange: Heath Shaw, Tommy Sheridan, Daniel Lloyd, Jeremy Finlayson
In: Josh Kelly, Shane Mumford, Tommy Sheridan
Out: Lachlan Keeffe, Dawson Simpson (omitted), Brett Deledio (calf)
Emergencies: Jackson Hately, Isaac Cumming, Lachlan Keeffe, Dawson Simpson
