AFL 2024: GWS loses Jake Riccardi for rest of home-and-away season

GWS will scramble to fill an important role for the final month of the home-and-away season after a tall was ruled out through injury.

GWS forward-ruck Jake Riccardi will miss the rest of the home-and-away season after undergoing finger surgery. Picture: Mark Stewart

GWS is set to lose important forward Jake Riccardi for the rest of the home-and-away season after he underwent finger surgery this week.

Giants coach Adam Kingsley confirmed the 24-year-old would be sidelined for about a month as his side faces a crucial run of games beginning with Hawthorn at Manuka Oval on Sunday.

Riccardi has not missed a game since round 10 last season and has been important as the back-up ruck to Kieren Briggs.

Kingsley said ruckwork would be a factor as he weighed up whether to recall second-year forward Max Gruzewski or more experienced options in Callum Brown and Lachie Keeffe.

“Some are capable (in the ruck) and some aren’t. We’ll try and pick the player that will suit what we need,” Kingsley said.

GWS forward Jake Riccardi could miss the rest of the home-and-away season after he underwent finger surgery this week. Picture: Brendon Thorne / Getty Images)

“(Riccardi) just had a dodgy finger for a couple of weeks actually – he’s been managing it, we decided to get it scanned and it just hasn’t come good.

“He had to have that operated on unfortunately, so he’s probably going to miss a month.”

Kingsley said Josh Kelly was poised to return next week but former skipper Stephen Coniglio’s return timeline had become unclear.

The Giants coach had said after the Demons clash he was confident Coniglio would return against the Hawks, but the star midfielder’s shoulder issue has flared again.

“I’m a little unsure on Cogs. Bit of a strength issue with his shoulder right at this moment, so he’s still working on that,” Kingsley said.

The Giants expect to regain star Josh Kelly from a calf injury for their round 22 clash against Brisbane. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“That could be next week … the strength indicators will suggest when he’s ready to go.”

Kingsley said Hawthorn’s run of form mirrored where the Giants were this time last season after taking off following a slow start to his first year as coach.

“I think it’s a really good comparison – they probably started the season similarly to us, and they’re coming hard like we did last year,” he said.

“They’re feeling pretty good about themselves … I’d like to think we’re feeling pretty good about ourselves too.

“Our last month will ultimately make or break our season, and if we’re good enough to be able to qualify for finals, we’ll certainly go in having played a lot of good teams.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: GWS loses Jake Riccardi for rest of home-and-away season