Midfielder Jacob Hopper will play his first game of 2018 for the GIANTS in Sydney Derby XIV on Saturday night at the SCG as one of two changes to the side that beat Collingwood last weekend.
The 21-year-old has been in strong form in the past two NEAFL practice matches after overcoming minor groin soreness at the back end of the pre-season.
Hopper impressed through the midfield in the NEAFL and comes in a direct replacement for the injured Tom Scully.
“He’s had a good four or
“There’s no doubt that every game he plays he’ll get better and better, and better.”
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“He looks forward to these sort of games because he knows it’s a tough and hard contested footy.
“He will come in and play a vital role in that area for us along with Tim Taranto, Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly and Dylan
Defender Harry Perryman also comes in for his first game of 2018, replacing forward Zac Langdon who will be sidelined for a month with a broken hand.
“He played a couple of weeks ago and was really, really good in Canberra and then missed a couple of weeks with a back injury,” Cameron said.
“He played last week and we feel as though he’s ready to step up to AFL footy again.
"He’ll come in and play his role whether that’s back, around the footy or forward of the footy, he’s got the flexibility to play a number of positions.
“We look forward to having him
Cameron is wary of the Swans who will be looking to make amends after a 23 point loss to Port Adelaide at the SCG last week, a venue at which the GIANTS have only won once.
“It’s very hard to beat the Swans at the SCG, it probably doesn’t matter where you play them - at the SCG, Spotless Stadium or ANZ Stadium - they’re always hard to beat,” Cameron said.
“I think we’ve got better every time we’ve gone to the SCG. We obviously won there last year which doesn’t mean anything this year but what it does mean is that you walk into the rooms knowing you’re a chance.”
“We know that if we bring the effort and energy that’s required to take it up against a top team, then it puts you in the game.”
Meanwhile livewire forward Toby Greene will miss another week due to hamstring soreness.
Swans Vs GIANTS
Saturday, April 7 at
SCG
FB: Adam Tomlinson, Phil Davis, Heath Shaw
HB: Nick Haynes, Jeremy Finlayson, Matt de Boer
C: Sam Reid, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield
HF: Daniel Lloyd, Jon Patton, Jeremy Cameron
FF: Tim Taranto, Harry Himmelberg, Brett Deledio
Ruck: Rory Lobb, Josh Kelly, Dylan Shiel
Interchange: Harry Perryman, Jacob Hopper, Stephen Coniglio, Aidan Corr
Emergency: Aiden Bonar, Dawson Simpson, Nick Shipley, Lachie Keeffe
IN: Jacob Hopper, Harry Perryman
OUT: Tom Scully (ankle), Zac Langdon (hand)
