Brent Daniels headlines six inclusions for Saturday’s do-or-die VFL Wildcard Round clash with Richmond.
One of the AFL’s most dynamic small forwards, Daniels will return via the VFL on Saturday after recovering from a persistent adductor injury which has kept him sidelined since round 14.
Up against Richmond in a knockout Wildcard Round clash, Saturday’s game will be Daniels’ first-ever appearance at VFL level after the club joined the competition in 2021.
Joining Daniels as part of this week’s inclusions is exciting young duo Phoenix Gothard and Ollie Hannaford who both return from injury to take on the Tigers.
Like Daniels, Hannaford returns to action after a long lay off, with the powerful young draftee named for his first game since May after overcoming a syndesmosis injury, while Gothard returns after missing two weeks with an adductor injury.
The other additions for Saturday’s season-defining clash with the Tigers are VFL-listed forward pair Jaidyn Butson and Hugo Birks, as well as utility Will Shaw.
After finishing the home and away season in 9th with a record of 10-8, the VFL’s unique Wildcard Round will give the GIANTS one last chance to feature in this year’s finals series, with the winner of Saturday’s clash to advance to play in an elimination final against Casey or Brisbane next week.
Saturday’s big game will get under way at 12:10pm at ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne.
VFL WILDCARD ROUND
Tigers v GIANTS
Saturday, August 23 at 12:10pm
ETU Stadium | Wurundjeri Country
B: Liam McCarthy, Lachlan Keeffe, Billy McGee Galimberti
HB: Harper Montgomery, Harry Oliver, Josh Fahey
C: Ethan Matthews, James Leake, Riley Hamilton
HF: Phoenix Gothard, Brent Daniels, Taine Moraschi
FF: Ryan Hebron, Ollie Hannaford, Logan Smith
RR: Nick Madden, James Lugsdin, Josaia Delana,
Interchange: Perry Lewis-Smith, Sam McMeeken, Hugo Birks, Jaiden Butson
In: Brent Daniels, Ollie Hannaford, Phoenix Gothard, Jaiden Butson, Hugo Birks, Will Shaw
Out: Jacob Wehr, Noah Bradshaw, Alex Swinnerton, Mackenzie Allen, Jesse Hart, Izaac Hughes
