Griffen back after year out with Kelly to miss clash with Dockers
Star midfielder Josh Kelly is out of Greater Western Sydney's clash with a resurgent Fremantle as veteran Ryan Griffen closes in on his first senior game in a year.
Griffen and All Australian forward Toby Greene were among three ins on Thursday night for the Giants, who have also lost ruckman Rory Lobb.
Kelly will miss the trip to Canberra due to groin soreness however the club does not believe the issue will be an ongoing problem.
Griffen, 30, has not played a match for premiership points since suffering a serious ankle injury in round three last year. The former Western Bulldogs captain had another setback in the preseason but fights his way back in after two games at NEAFL level.
He's back: Ryan Griffen returns for his first senior game in a year.
Photo: Jay Cronan"There's no doubt he'll be nervous because it's been 12 months, it doesn't matter how many games you play, but we know what he can do," Giants coach Leon Cameron said.
"We know he hits the ball hard, we know he tackles hard and we look forward to him contributing in his way on the weekend."
After missing the past two weeks due to a hamstring injury, Greene returns to add bite to a forward line that for three quarters struggled to penetrate the Swans' miserly defence.
"He's such a competitive player and our forward line no doubt love having him down there," Cameron said.
"There's no doubt having six or seven forwards that play together week after week, it creates better cohesion in terms of leading patterns and that understanding."
Lobb has not fully recovered from the knee injury he sustained during the Sydney derby last week. The big man trained during the week but did not do enough to convince the coaching staff to pick him for the daunting assignment against Dockers behemoth Aaron Sandilands.
"He's better and better but when he was running during the week he was probably going at about 90 per cent on the Wednesday," Cameron said.
"He pulled up really well on Thursday but he’s still probably 90 per cent and we just don't think we can take in a 90 per cent ruckman against such a good ruckman like Sandilands."
The club opted instead for back up ruckman Dawson Simpson, who will be lining up for just his third game for the club since crossing from Geelong at the end of 2015 and only his 31st since being drafted in 2007.
Simpson was unlucky to miss out in round one after playing through the preseason but now has a rare chance to show his wares at senior level.
"It's a huge challenge against Aaron Sandilands, who has started the year really well," Cameron said. "We understand the challenges, but Daws is really excited about going toe-to-toe with such a good ruckman."