Jeremy Cameron and Matt de Boer will return to the GIANTS side for Sunday’s clash with Carlton at Etihad Stadium, while last year’s pick 11 Aiden Bonar will make his AFL debut.
Coach Leon Cameron confirmed 19-year-old Bonar will play his first AFL game this weekend after averaging 21 disposals (60
"It's been hard because he hasn't been able to get that spot in the midfield," Cameron told media on Friday morning.
"(Stephen) Coniglio, (Callan) Ward, (Dylan) Shiel, (Jacob) Hopper and (Tim) Taranto have all played (plenty of games), and he's been in an unfortunate position.
"He's been unlucky because
"Any player that puts his head over the footy as hard as he does, you know naturally that our players will love him.
"He's hard at it, you'll know if you're tackled by him, and it's a great story for us.”
Jeremy Cameron returns from a five-week suspension for his first game since round 14. The star forward has kicked 35 goals in 12 games this season, also missing a match with toe soreness in round seven.
Matt de Boer spent three weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury but returned ahead of schedule through the NEAFL last week and finished with 36 disposals, 11 tackles
Dylan Shiel will miss his first game of the season after he rolled his already sore left ankle while being tackled by ruckman Dawson Simpson at training on Thursday.
Both Cameron and Shiel are hopeful the week off will have the star midfielder ready for the rest of the season, and that he can return for next week's trip to Canberra to take on Adelaide.
"He did it a few weeks ago and has
"It flared up after the game (against St Kilda) and again on Thursday, and he didn't complete training.
"We've had a good look at it and there's clearly a bit of ligament damage, so it's a time thing now, and we'll monitor him.
"We were desperate to have him play, but it will be touch and go for next week."
Tim Taranto (knee) and Sam Reid (knee) will also miss the Blues clash, with Cameron hoping all three will press for selection ahead of the Crows match.
Cameron said Taranto has struggled to get up for games in recent weeks due to soreness, while Reid has been carrying a knee issue.
Sunday will also mark Nick Haynes’ 100th game for the GIANTS since being selected with pick seven in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft.
The GIANTS take on Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon at
Carlton v GIANTS
Sunday, August 5 at
Etihad Stadium
FB: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Sam Taylor
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Nick Haynes, Adam Tomlinson
C: Matt de Boer, Stephen Coniglio, Adam Kennedy
HF: Brett Deledio, Jeremy Cameron, Josh Kelly
FF: Zac Langdon, Rory Lobb, Harry Himmelberg
RR: Dawson Simpson, Jacob Hopper, Callan Ward
Interchange: Brent Daniels, Aiden Bonar, Toby Greene, Matt Buntine
In: Matt de Boer, Jeremy Cameron, Aiden Bonar
Out: Tim Taranto (knee), Dylan Shiel (ankle), Sam Reid (knee)
Emergencies: Daniel Lloyd, Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming, Lachlan Keeffe
