The GIANTS’ VFL side will possess a host of Riverina talent when they take to the field in Albury this weekend, with AFL-listed trio Phoenix Gothard, Nathan Wardius, and Nick Madden named to take on Port Melbourne in their own backyard.
The trio – who all hail from the Riverina region – will be joined by more local products against The Borough on Sunday, with VFL-listed duo Jaiden Butson and Jace McQuade also set to don the orange and charcoal in front of friends and family.
Two of the six signings from the Albury VFL Hub that the club created earlier this season to help give players from the region a shot at playing VFL footy, Butson will play his third game for the club this season on Sunday while McQuade, a rangy key defender who won a premiership in the Ovens and Murray Football League last season, has been named to make his VFL debut.
Perry Lewis-Smith will also return to familiar territory on Sunday after being named to take on Port Melbourne. Lewis-Smith joined the GIANTS’ VFL program this year after starring for Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray Football League last season.
Meanwhile retuning to the VFL side is exciting AFL-listed duo Josaia Delana and Jack Ough, with Delana returning following his recent AFL debut, while Ough will look to continue his stellar VFL form shown prior to missing last week’s game with soreness.
The pair are two of 13 AFL-listed GIANTS named to take on Port Melbourne in Albury on Sunday.
Livewire small forward Matt Harms has also been recalled to the GIANTS side looking to rebound from its first loss of the season in a hard-fought clash with Collingwood last week.
Harms’ inclusion is one of six changes to the side, with Leek Aleer (AFL), Harry Rowston (AFL), and Harry Oliver (managed) headlining the list of outs this week.
Sitting atop the VFL ladder at 6-1 on the season, the GIANTS will be looking to continue their hot start to the season on Sunday when they host a special home game in the Riverina at Albury Sports Ground.
Sunday’s clash with The Borough will get under way at 11am.
VFL Round 9
GIANTS v Port Melbourne
Sunday, May 25 at 11am
Albury Sports Ground | Wiradjuri Country
B: Jace McQuade, Wade Derksen, Conor Stone
HB: Harper Montgomery, Josh Fahey, James Leake
C: Ryan Angwin, Marc Sheather, Perry Lewis-Smith
HF: Ollie Hannaford, Josaia Delana, Phoenix Gothard
FF: Lachlan Keeffe, Nathan Wardius, Max Gruzewski
RR: Nick Madden, Jack Ough, Louie Montgomery
Interchange: Jaiden Butson, Sam McMeeken, Matt Harms, Billy McGee Galimberti, Ryan Hebron
In: Jack Ough, Josaia Delana, Perry Lewis-Smith, Matt Harms, Jaiden Butson, Jace McQuade (VFL debut)
Out: Leek Aleer (AFL), Harry Rowston (AFL), Harry Oliver (managed), Izaac Hughes (injured), James Lugsdin, Noah Bradshaw (omitted)
