Co-captain Phil Davis will return to lead the GIANTS in their final match of the season against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium this Sunday.
Davis was subbed out of the GIANTS Round 21 victory against Melbourne with concussion and missed last week’s match against Collingwood at Spotless Stadium.
He comes into the side along with defender Zac Williams and small forward Liam Sumner while Jon Giles, Curtly Hampton, Jacob Townsend and Cam McCarthy have been named on an extended interchange.
If he’s selected, McCarthy will be the fourth GIANTS player to debut this season.
Adam Kennedy (shoulder), Jono O’Rourke (hamstring), Tim Golds (concussion) and Mark Whiley (hamstring) go out of the side. Co-captain Callan Ward will miss the chance to play his old side after he was again ruled out with a calf injury.
Two time Geelong premiership defender Josh Hunt will play his 212th and last AFL match, while young midfielder Dylan Shiel will play his 50th AFL match.
Coach Leon Cameron says the GIANTS are focused on securing their sixth win of the season.
“We’re coming up against a very hungry Bulldogs side who are no doubt going to be up for the game in honour of a club favourite in Daniel Giansiracusa so it’s going to be really tough,” said Cameron.
“We feel like with the ground we’ve made in the back half of the year, we’re going in looking forward to hopefully breaking our duck at Etihad Stadium.
“We played some really good, positive footy there last year in the early games so we’re looking forward to it and the guys are keen to finish off on a really good note,” he said.
The GIANTS play their final match of the season against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium this Sunday at 4.40pm. The match will be shown live in NSW and the ACT on Fox Footy and 7mate.
GWS GIANTS v Western Bulldogs
Sunday August 31, 4.40pm
Etihad Stadium
GWS GIANTS
FB: Lachie Plowman, Phil Davis, Adam Tomlinson
HB: James Stewart, Heath Shaw, Matt Buntine
C: Josh Kelly, Adam Treloar, Will Hoskin-Elliott
HF: Tomas Bugg, Tom Boyd, Dylan Shiel
FF: Devon Smith, Josh Hunt, Liam Sumner
R: Shane Mumford, Rhys Palmer, Zac Williams
Interchange (from): Nathan Wilson, Curtly Hampton, Cam McCarthy, Toby Greene, Jonathan Giles, Jacob Townsend, Sam Frost
In: Phil Davis, Liam Sumner, Zac Williams, Cam McCarthy, Jonathan Giles, Jacob Townsend
Out: Adam Kennedy (shoulder), Jono O'Rourke (hamstring), Tim Golds (concussion), Mark Whiley (hamstring)
The final team will be named at 5.00pm on Friday at gwsgiants.com.au
Davis Returns For GIANTS
Co-captain Phil Davis will return to lead the GIANTS in their final match of the season against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium this Sunday.
