The Greater Western Sydney Giants have sent an inexperienced, yet talented side to face the Bulldogs in the first NAB Challenge at StarTrak Oval in Canberra tonight.
Giants coach Leon Cameron told the Club’s website that his side’s first game of the pre-season competition will be an opportunity for younger players to push for round one spots ahead of their opening round clash with Melbourne on March 26.
Former Geelong premiership star Steve Johnson will join skipper Callan Ward in sitting out, and Heath Shaw, Ryan Griffen, Shane Mumford, Dylan Shiel and spearhead Jeremy Cameron were also missing from the 29 man squad announced on Tuesday.
Cameron said the hit out will give the likes of Zac Williams, Nathan Wilson, Jack Steele and Caleb Marchbank a chance to impress the coach, alongside academy draftees Jacob Hooper and Matthew Kennedy.
The Bulldogs will be without Tom Liberatore, Tom Boyd and Jack Redpath for the match, with new faces Matthew Suckling and Jed Adcock set to debut for the club after being named in the initial 29-man squad.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY SQUAD
1. Phil Davis, 2. Jacob Hopper, 3. Stephen Coniglio, 5. Dylan Shiel, 6. Lachie Whitfield, 7. Rhys Palmer, 9. Tom Scully, 11. Jack Steele, 12. Jonathon Patton , 14. Jarrod Pickett, 15. Matthew Kennedy, 16. Nathan Wilson, 20. Adam Tomlinson, 21. Matt Buntine, 22. Josh Kelly, 24. Joel Patfull, 26. Dawson Simpson, 27. Harrison Himmelberg, 28. Jake Barrett, 29. Zac Williams,, 31. Jeremy Finlayson, 33. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 34. Caleb Marchbank, 35. Aidan Corr, 36. James Stewart, 37. Rory Lobb, 40. Adam Kennedy, 42. Pat McKenna, 50. Sam J. Reid
WESTERN BULLDOGS SQUAD
1. Matthew Suckling, 2. Robert Murphy, 3. Mitch Wallis, 4. Marcus Bontempelli, 5. Matthew Boyd, 6. Luke Dahlhaus, 7. Lachie Hunter, 9. Jake Stringer, 10. Easton Wood, 11. Jack Macrae, 13. Nathan Hrovat, 15. Tom Campbell, 16. Toby McLean, 19. Lukas Webb, 22. Mitch Honeychurch, 23. Jordan Roughead, 24. Shane Biggs, 25. Koby Stevens, 26. Declan Hamilton, 27. Will Minson, 29. Tory Dickson, 31. Bailey Dale, 32. Kieran Collins, 33. Marcus Adams, 35. Caleb Daniel, 38. Dale Morris, 39. Jason Johannisen, 42. Liam Picken, 44. Jed Adcock
