The GIANTS’ side to take on the SUNS has been finalised, with Jesse Hogan to return to the senior side.
Hogan returns alongside young defender Sam Taylor while last week’s medi-sub Sam Reid has retained his spot in the side after coming on early last round for the injured Jack Buckley.
“We’re excited to welcome Sam Taylor and Jesse back from injury while Sam Reid did a great job last week after coming on for Bucks early in the game,” coach Leon Cameron said.
“Taylor’s a really important member of our backline and he’s done a great job with his rehab to get back from a syndesmosis injury in six weeks.
“We gave him an extra full week of training and he’s ready to go and really looking forward to Sunday’s game.
“Jesse’s had a run in our VFL side last week and while it was a tricky game for key forwards, he did everything we needed of him to bring him back into the senior side this week.”
Buckley goes out of the side after suffering an ACL injury last round and undergoing a knee reconstruction on Thursday.
Ruck Matt Flynn and forward Jeremy Finlayson have been omitted.
Star midfielder Jacob Hopper will play his 100th game in Ballarat on Sunday, returning to the town where he finished years 11 and 12 at St Patrick’s College.
Cameron paid tribute to the 24-year-old.
“Jacob’s sometimes underrated externally but he never has been within our footy club,” he said.
“He’s a bull and a really important player for us and he’s becoming a great player of the competition since coming to our club through the GIANTS Academy pathway.
“He’s developing really nicely as a leader of our football club. It’s a great milestone for him and nice that it comes in a familiar town against the team he debuted against."
The coach is looking forward to taking Sunday’s game - which was meant to be played at GIANTS Stadium in Sydney - to the people of regional Victoria.
“Coming from a country town myself, I know how important and how loved footy is in these communities of regional Victoria,” he said.
“It’s going to be a great spectacle between two young sides who are both coming off great wins.
“The SUNS are in some great form and playing exciting football so we encourage all those in Ballarat and the surrounding areas to come down on Sunday for what’s sure to be a fantastic contest.”
The GIANTS take on the SUNS at Mars Stadium in Ballarat at 12:40pm on Sunday.
