The GIANTS have recalled skipper Stephen Coniglio and tall forward Jake Riccardi for Friday night’s clash with St Kilda at the Gabba.
Coach Leon Cameron said his side is looking forward to the match.
“It’s a massive game for us on Friday night regardless of whether it means it means we end up playing finals or not, we know that’s out of our control,” he said.
“What we can control is going out there and putting our best effort forward and I think we have been building for a few weeks towards that.
“We come up against a really exciting side and it’s going to be a great battle at the Gabba.”
Coniglio returns after being omitted from last week’s narrow loss to the Demons while Riccardi was managed after playing four matches in a a row since his debut.
“We’ll welcome Stephen back into the side,” Cameron said.
“We understand it was a big decision last week to leave him out but he’s freshened up, trained really well and is looking forward to playing the footy we know he can.
“Jake also comes back in after being managed last week.
“He’s had a great start to his footy career but played four games in a very short amount of time so we think the game off will hold him in really good stead to come in and compete in Friday night footy.
“Harry Himmelberg and Adam Kennedy have been omitted. Like we said last week, if you’re not performing at the level we need then you’ll find yourself out of the side.
“Both of these guys are quality players and they’ll bounce back."
Jack Buckley has proven his fitness after suffering a delayed concussion on debut last week.
The GIANTS take on the Saints at the Gabba on Friday night.
Round 18
St Kilda v GIANTS
Friday, September 18 at 7:50pm
The Gabba
FB: Connor Idun, Lachlan Keeffe, Heath Shaw
HB: Lachie Whitfield, Nick Haynes, Zac Williams
C: Josh Kelly, Jacob Hopper, Harry Perryman
HF: Jeremy Cameron, Jake Riccardi, Matt de Boer
FF: Toby Greene, Jeremy Finlayson, Brent Daniels
RR: Shane Mumford, Stephen Coniglio, Tim Taranto
Interchange: Sam Reid, Daniel Lloyd, Jack Buckley, Tom Green
In: Stephen Coniglio, Jake Riccardi
Out: Harry Himmelberg, Adam Kennedy (omitted)
Emergencies: Bobby Hill, Matt Flynn, Jye Caldwell, Isaac Cumming
