Giants, Cats regain stars for huge AFL clash
Shayne Hope |
Gun pair Jesse Hogan and Lachie Whitfield will return for GWS in their top-eight battle with a Geelong side bolstered by the return of Bailey Smith.
Hawthorn have called up teen forward Calsher Dear ahead of Mitch Lewis for round 18, while Adelaide forward Wayne Milera and Essendon defender Mason Redman are also among the key inclusions.
Hogan, who kicked seven goals in his last meeting with the Cats, has recovered from a foot injury and illness to be named in the Giants team for Saturday’s clash at Engie Stadium.
Whitfield will return from a stint out with concussion and become the third GWS player behind Toby Greene and Callan Ward to reach 250 games.
Giants defender Jack Buckley has been named despite a foot concern.
“He did a session prior to training and ticked the boxes he needed to tick off so we’ll give him every chance to get up,” GWS coach Adam Kingsley said.
“It’s looking pretty positive at the moment but he’s still got to progress tomorrow.”
Geelong superstar Smith is back in action after he was a late withdrawal last week because of illness.
“He was ill and now he’s not. That’s pretty simple,” Cats coach Chris Scott said.
“He’s trained well, looks good.”
George Stevens has held his spot with Geelong after an impressive debut, but Mitch Duncan and Sam De Koning are unavailable because of shoulder injuries.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell played his cards close to his chest before recalling Dear for the Saturday night’s trip west to take on Fremantle at Optus Stadium.
Dear missed the first four months of the season with a back stress fracture but has starred at VFL level over the last three weeks.
Dear and Finn Maginness replace Max Ramsden and Seamus Mitchell, while Fremantle have called up Oscar McDonald in place of injured skipper Alex Pearce, and Sam Switkowski takes the place of Neil Erasmus.
Adelaide forward Milera is back for a huge clash with the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday after missing last week through personal reasons.
Chayce Jones and Brayden Cook have also been called up, with Josh Rachele (knee) the key absentee.
Sam Davidson and Josh Dolan are back for the Bulldogs, who have dropped Lachlan McNeil and Taylor Duryea.
Richmond made five changes for their clash with Essendon on Saturday night, including naming veteran Jayden Short after his successful VFL return from a calf injury.
Taj Hotton will be the Tigers’ ninth debutant of the season and key defender Tylar Young is back for his first game in more than a year, while Noah Balta will miss because of his court-imposed curfew.
Redman is back for the Bombers after overcoming a hamstring injury, with Archie Perkins and Jade Gresham both dropped.
On Sunday, North Melbourne will be without spearhead Nick Larkey for the first time in three years when they take on Melbourne at the MCG.
Larkey will be sidelined with a knee injury and Luke Davies-Uniacke (concussion) is also out, but Luke Parker, Charlie Comben and Jack Darling have all been named in the extended squad.
Sydney have lost Joel Amartey and Tom Papley to injuries for their must-win meeting with St Kilda, while Oliver Florent has been named on an extended bench after being omitted again last week.
West Coast midfielder Tim Kelly has been dropped one more for his side’s clash with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
AAP
