Co-captain Phil Davis will return to face Port Adelaide as one of three changes to the GIANTS team that will run out at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Davis, dashing defender Adam Kennedy and young midfielder Jackson Hately all return to the team for Heath Shaw’s 300th AFL game.
GIANTS Head Coach Leon Cameron welcomed Davis’ return.
“Phil was pretty close last weekend, but we decided to take a cautious approach after he pulled up sore after the Richmond game,” he said.
“Our backline was outstanding in Phil’s absence and it’s always good to be able to welcome back a player of Phil’s experience.
“We know what Phil can do and the leadership he brings and after training strongly all week he’s ready to go.”
Despite sitting out the second half of the NEAFL match last week due to an elevated heart rate, defender Adam Kennedy has been named.
“It’s been an interesting week for Adam but he’s progressed well and we’re confident he can come in and get back to the type of footy he was playing in the early stages of the year.”
First-year midfielder Hately will play his fifth game of the season, after some outstanding performances in the NEAFL.
The 19-year-old collected 33 and 29 disposals in his past two games and averaged 7.5 tackles across the two games.
“We’ve been really pleased with how Jackson’s applied himself over the past two weeks in the NEAFL,” Cameron said.
“He gets another opportunity at AFL level and we can’t wait to see him bring his run and energy to the team.”
Defenders Jake Stein and Lachie Keeffe have been omitted while veteran Brett Deledio has been managed.
The GIANTS have won their last four meetings with Port Adelaide and haven’t lost to the Power at the Adelaide Oval since round 20, 2015.
However, with Port Adelaide fighting for a place in the top eight, Cameron expects a tough contest in front of a hostile crowd.
“Port Adelaide have come up against some pretty strong opposition in the last couple of weeks and we know how good a team they can be,” Cameron said.
“It’s a big game for both clubs and we expect them to come out fighting and no doubt their crowd will be right behind them for the full four quarters.
“We know what we have to do and that’s bring the same intensity we did against Collingwood last weekend.”
ROUND 19
Port Adelaide v GIANTS
Saturday, July 27 at 7:40pm
Adelaide Oval
FB: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Adam Tomlinson
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Nick Haynes, Sam Taylor
C: Zac Williams, Sam Reid, Adam Kennedy
HF: Jackson Hately, Jeremy Cameron, Daniel Lloyd
FF: Brent Daniels, Harry Himmelberg, Bobby Hill
Ruck: Shane Mumford, Toby Greene, Tim Taranto
Interchange: Harry Perryman, Jacob Hopper, Jeremy Finlayson, Dawson Simpson
Emergencies: Jye Caldwell, Aiden Bonar, Lachie Keeffe, Jake Stein
In: Davis, Kennedy, Hately
Out: Jake Stein (ommitted), Lachie Keeffe (omitted), Brett Deledio (managed)
