AFL: GWS Giants shake up line-up in pursuit of first win this season against Gold Coast Suns

Leon Cameron’s Giants are winless through two rounds and ravaged by injury but a key fundamental is what the coach hopes will turn their fortunes

Braydon Preuss will be the Giants’ No.1 ruckman this weekend. Picture: Getty Images

Greater Western Sydney has responded savagely at the selection table to last week’s poor performance against Richmond as the Giants bid to ignite their season against Gold Coast on Saturday.

Ex-Demons and Kangaroos ruckman Braydon Preuss will finally make his debut for GWS in his second season in orange and charcoal – but won’t be partnering Matt Flynn, who’s been dropped.

Jake Riccardi and Jarrod Brander also lost their spots in Leon Cameron’s side after kicking only two goals between them in the opening fortnight.

“It’s been a long time waiting (for Preuss) because of the challenges we’ve had with some of the injuries, but he will play this weekend,” Cameron said.

“He played really well (in the VFL) last week. I think people tend to forget he had back surgery in the off-season, so it’s taken us a while to build him up.

“He’s now had three games, plus a good couple of months of training, and we expect him to step up to the plate.”

Braydon Preuss’ Giants debut was a long time coming. Picture: Getty Images

Five players go out of the Giants’ team, including defender Phil Davis (hamstring) and forward Daniel Lloyd (forearm), who face months out after undergoing surgery.

Prime mover Jacob Hopper (knee) also went under the knife on Thursday and could miss the next 10 weeks.

It will be a new-look squad, with Matt de Boer, Lachie Keeffe, Jake Stein and James Peatling recalled, alongside Preuss, for the Suns clash.

Keeffe, at 204cm, looms as another ruck option to help tackle Gold Coast’s 209cm leviathan Jarrod Witts, while de Boer could be used to tag one of Touk Miller, Matt Rowell or Noah Anderson.

“It’s disappointing because two of our guys in our leadership group (Hopper and Davis), who are an integral part of our team, are going to be out for a long period,” Cameron said.

Lachie Keeffe (left) and Jake Riccardi are going in opposite directions in this week’s Giants line-up. Picture: Getty Images

“But we’ve been there and done that before. We’ve had that happen to our footy club a lot in the last five years ... at least there’s a great opportunity for players to step up and get rewarded for their form at the lower level.”

Cameron was mostly pleased with his players’ round 1 performance against the Swans but was frustrated with how Richmond “outworked” them last week.

“That was really disappointing and, in the end, you cop a five or six-goal loss,” he said.

“We come up this weekend against the Gold Coast, who are arguably one of the hardest-working clubs going around at the moment, in the early part of the year.

“They lead a lot of indicators – pressure, front-half footy and contested ball – so if that’s not there, that basic fundamental stuff for footy, then you get out-worked again.

“We’ve challenged our group to match that, and some, against the Suns on Saturday.”

Originally published as AFL: GWS Giants shake up line-up in pursuit of first win this season against Gold Coast Suns