Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy has forecast making up to five changes to the side that recorded a competitive 46-point loss to Adelaide on Saturday.
The defeat was by far the Giants’ best performance in the AFL season, but the nature of GWS’s squad will force Sheedy’s hand at the selection table.
The four-time premiership coach suggested he’ll keep rotating young players through the squad in an effort to make sure they all gain experience and remain fresh.
“We’ll probably make about five changes this week. Four of five,” Sheedy said.
“We’ll bring some boys in maybe for their first game and we’ll also bring back a couple who were rested this week.”
Round two rising star nominee Jeremy Cameron will return, but ex-Carlton utility Setanta o’hAilpin is likely to remain in the reserves.
“We might leave him for the Carlton game,” Sheedy said of the 29-year-old who has played two games in the NEAFL after missing the entire pre-season with a badly corked calf.
“It’s good to get him through games at the moment and we’ll need everyone of these players with experience coming back in the next month.
“Because sooner or later we will rest (Dean) Brogan, Chad Cornes and those sort of boys. They’re not going to play all the matches this year.”
Jonathon Patton played his first NEAFL game on Saturday after undergoing knee surgery in Sweden in January, but he’s lacking match fitness and is unlikely to return until late May at the earliest.
AAP rf