Griffen, Patfull to debut for GWS

GWS Giants’ prize recruits Ryan Griffen and Joel Patfull will make their debuts for the AFL club in Saturday’s NAB Challenge game against Gold Coast at Blacktown.

Midfielder Griffen joined from Western Bulldogs and defender Patfull from Brisbane.

Both were part of the Giants’ intra-club hitout last week.

“It’s terrific to have Ryan Griffen and Joel Patfull ready to play their first games for the Giants and they’ll add further experience to our young team,” Giants coach Leon Cameron said.

Defender Phil Davis, who signed a contract extension earlier this week, and fellow co-captain Callan Ward, have both been named in the squad.

Another prominent player named is 2013 All-Australian forward Jeremy Cameron, who ended last year on the injury list,

Cameron played most of the intra-club hitout and will potentially shoulder plenty of the load up forward, with Tom Boyd moving to the Bulldogs as part of the deal that brought Griffen to Sydney, and Jonathon Patton sidelined till mid-season by a knee reconstruction.

In a sure sign the fourth-year franchise is starting to rely less on annual draft picks, Giants Academy graduate Jack Steele was the only draftee named in the squad for Saturday.

The Giants have rested reigning best and fairest Shane Mumford, fellow veteran Heath Shaw, Rhys Palmer, Adam Treloar and Devon Smith.

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