Dynamic small forward duo Toby Bedford and Brent Daniels will bolster the GIANTS for their cut-throat clash with Essendon at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday.
Bedford and Daniels return for the round 23 twilight clash after missing last week’s match with Port Adelaide through respective one-match suspensions.
The electric duo, arguably the GIANTS’ two best pressure players, are welcome additions to Adam Kingsley’s side, who are looking to remain in the finals race with a win over the Bombers.
“I’ll be a lot more confident with those two up front being able to do what they’ve been doing over the last three months,” Kingsley said of Bedford and Daniels’ inclusions.
“Since Toby has come into the team, round seven I think it was, he’s been the number one pressure forward in the competition, so he provides that sort of game style for us which we like to play.
“And Brent is recovering really well from his [prior] hamstring injuries and he’s continuing to build, and we know how damaging he can be in that space [pressure].”
Veteran Nick Haynes will miss the clash with Essendon through illness, while last week’s debutant Toby McMullin will start as the sub. Last week’s sub, Jacob Wehr, drops back to the emergencies list.
Meanwhile, emerging midfielder Finn Callaghan will miss a third successive clash after failing to overcome a lingering achilles injury.
“He couldn’t get through training today, so he’s still got a bit of discomfort in that Achilles, so it’ll be ongoing,” Kingsley said.
“Hopefully it clears up. It’s one of those things that can settle very quickly, but it just hasn’t, and so we keep waiting.”
Popular forward Daniel Lloyd has been named in a forward pocket against the Bombers following news the 31-year-old will retire at season’s end.
With both the GIANTS (10th) and the Bombers (9th) sitting smack bang in the middle of the chasing finals pack, a loss for either side on Saturday would likely snuff out any chance of September action.
The GIANTS and the Bombers will do battle at GIANTS Stadium on Saturday at 4:35pm.
Match Details
GIANTS v Essendon
Saturday, August 19 at 4:35pm
GIANST Stadium | Wangal Country
Team
FB: Jack Buckley, Sam Taylor, Connor Idun
HB: Lachie Ash, Harry Himmelberg, Lachie Whitfield
C: Josh Kelly, Tom Green, Josh Fahey
HF: Toby Bedford, Jake Riccardi, Brent Daniels
FF: Daniel Lloyd, Jesse Hogan, Toby Greene
RR: Kieren Briggs, Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio
Interchange: Isaac Cumming, Harry Perryman, Lachlan Keefe, Callum Brown
In: Brent Daniels, Toby Bedford
Out: Nick Haynes (illness), Toby McMullin (sub)
Emergencies: Toby McMullin, Jacob Wehr, Ryan Angwin, Matt Flynn
