By Nathan Schmook
GREATER Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy strongly believes his team will be competitive against Collingwood next Saturday after finding encouraging signs in Sunday's 95-point loss to Fremantle at Patersons Stadium.
The Giants left senior players Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan out of Sunday's team, as well as key youngsters Stephen Coniglio, Jeremy Cameron and Jon Patton in a move that could have backfired drastically.
However, the first-year club was competitive for periods in its first trip to Perth, and Sheedy said the selection gamble would ensure the Giants gave a good account of themselves against the fourth-placed Pies at Skoda Stadium in round 18.
"We won't be far off our best side next week," Sheedy said on Sunday night.
"We'll have Cornes come back in, maybe Brogan. We might bring four back in and keep three in that played well and reward people that played well.
"We've got a big game up in Sydney [against Collingwood]."
Teenagers Kurt Aylett, Sam Frost and Gerald Ugle all debuted for the Giants on Sunday, while Josh Bruce (one game), Anthony Miles (one), Mark Whiley (two) and Andrew Phillips also came into the team.
Bruce was one of the Giants' best players, finishing with 15 disposals, nine marks and a goal, while Aylett impressed by putting his body on the line courageously in the first quarter.
"We took a gamble and a risk by playing seven boys who have played three or less games," Sheedy said. "I think they kicked four of our five goals, the boys who had just come into the side.
"It's an enormous experience for a guy like [Frost]. He played key back, key forward and ruck, so that's a hell of a lot of experience for a guy running around against the Fremantle Dockers at Patersons Stadium in his first game.
"It could push him into an opportunity to play next week against Collingwood."
