Former skipper Callan Ward and ruckman Shane Mumford will return to the GIANTS’ side for Friday night’s match-up with Essendon at Metricon Stadium. 

As announced earlier in the day, young midfielder Xavier O’Halloran will also make his AFL debut in the blockbuster clash against the Bombers. 

Ward, 30, will line up in his fifth game of the season after missing three matches with a knee injury - unrelated to the ACL he injured last season.

Ward played a full practice match against the Swans at the lower level last Friday to have him fully fit and ready to return to the side.

Mumford also comes in for his fifth match of the season with Sam Jacobs out, managed.

Mumford and Jacobs have swapped the ruck roles for the GIANTS so far in 2020 with the veterans now set to each play five matches across the first 10 rounds.

O’Halloran comes in for his first game after being in the first round of the 2018 draft at pick 22.  

The 20-year-old is a hard running-midfielder who can also play forward and wing and has been in strong form at the lower level.

Also out of the side are Toby Greene and Matt de Boer who will both miss the next two weeks with hamstring injuries.

The GIANTS take on the Bombers on Friday night at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.

Round 10

Essendon v GIANTS
Friday, August 7 at 7:50pm
Metricon Stadium

FB: Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Aidan Corr
HB: Nick Haynes, Lachlan Keeffe, Zac Williams
C: Lachie Whitfield, Stephen Coniglio, Harry Perryman
HF: Josh Kelly, Harry Himmelberg, Brent Daniels
FF: Jeremy Finlayson, Jeremy Cameron, Callan Ward
RR: Shane Mumford, Tim Taranto, Jacob Hopper 

Interchange: Jye Caldwell, Lachie Ash, Zac Langdon, Xavier O’Halloran

In: Xavier O’Halloran, Callan Ward, Shane Mumford
Out: Sam Jacobs (managed), Toby Greene (hamstring), Matt de Boer (hamstring) 

Emergencies: Jackson Hately, Bobby Hill, Matt Flynn, Jack Buckley