GWS Giants prepared for five stars to feature in AFL’s bushfire relief match
Grand finalists Richmond and GWS will provide a host of stars for the AFL’s bushfire relief match, with up to five Giants set to take part. These are the five GWS guns the AFL has canvassed.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Grand Finalists Richmond and GWS have thrown open their full complement of stars for the Bushfire relief game as the league ponders whether it can return the concept to an annual event.
Clubs will be told on Tuesday which players will be chosen but like Richmond, the Giants are happy for more than three players to take part.
Initially clubs were told only three per club would be selected with squads of 27 per side for the Victoria v All Stars clash on February 28.
But the league has accepted the overtures from star-studded sides happy to provide more players if needed given clubs will already be playing Marsh Community Series games at the same time.
At least one player from each team will play in the concept but some clubs will have up to five.
MORE AFL NEWS:
Patrick Cripps says it would be ‘bloody hard to leave’ Carlton
A guide to how the KFC SuperCoach captaincy loophole works
Magpies gamble on sharemarket after kicking pokies
Sam Docherty on track to feature in match simulation against Collingwood
Collingwood and Dayne Beams’ management to work out settlement for midfielder’s exit
GWS football boss Jason McCartney said the Giants were fully behind the Bushfire relief game given its timing on the football calendar.
“There were loose guidelines around three players being available but with Damien Hardwick coaching he is happy to have more players playing at Richmond. We are really comfortable with our guys playing even if it ends up at four or five,” he said yesterday.
“You want the guys ideally prepared to play for the season and they need a couple of hit-outs. If they don’t play in that game it’s our first Marsh Community Series game against Sydney on Saturday.
“To be honest the guys are all super keen to play because of the bushfire relief charity but also because it’s State-of-Origin.”
GWS stars who the league has canvassed include Jeremy Cameron, Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield, Nick Haynes and emerging mid Jacob Hopper.
Toby Greene is likely to miss Victorian representation after some minor knee soreness but is ready for some Marsh Community Series games.
The pre-season now seems the best time to play a state-of-origin style concept because clubs would already be getting match practice into their list.
A mid-season slot would see players forced to give up a valuable bye and affect their seasons rather than help as a tool to hit full form for Round 1.
The much-vaunted GWS midfield will be in full stride within the first month of the season when former captain Callan Ward returns from a knee reconstruction.
Josh Kelly is finally over the long-running groin issues that have plagued him while new captain Stephen Coniglio is in full training despite knee surgery that saw him miss the Grand Final.
“Cogs (Coniglio) is in full training right now and he’s ready to play and in the mix for State-of-Origin or the week after,” McCartney said.
“Toby has been fine. Whitfield had (ankle) surgery but hasn’t missed a beat since the week before Christmas and Kelly has trained a lot after his last couple of years were disrupted. He has had a full pre-season which is something he probably hasn’t had in the last 18 to 24 months but he’s fully over that.”
Originally published as GWS Giants prepared for five stars to feature in AFL’s bushfire relief match
Young gun’s remarkable Shield statement
It took some early luck, but a teenage opener is doing all he can to bolt into Australia’s Test squad against India.
Supercars legend picks who will win Bathurst
The Bathurst 1000 is upon us and six-time winner Mark Skaife has given his predictions for which driver will win the Great Race.