GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY have been dealt a blow ahead of Sunday’s clash with Hawthorn with midfielders Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly ruled out with injury.
Coniglio (shoulder) and Kelly (eye) were ruled out on Thursday night after failing to pass fitness tests ahead the clash, while former Hawk Stephen Gilham (omitted) is another confirmed out.
The midfield pair are a big loss for the Giants, with Coniglio in particular enjoying another impressive year in his third season.
The former number two draft pick has averaged 23. 4 disposals (third at his club) in his nine games so far this season, along with 5.3 tackles.
With the absence of Coniglio, the Giants have lost much of their drive through the midfield, as the 39-gamer likes to run and carry the ball through the middle. He is ranked number one at the Giants for uncontested possessions, averaging 14.8 per game.
Coniglio is also ranked third for clearances (4.8 average) and third for tackles. He has kicked four goals this season.
Kelly has also enjoyed a great start to his career, playing seven games in his debut season.
Also taken with the second overall pick in the draft, Kelly is averaging 15.6 disposals 2.9 tackles and a goal a game.
One of his best performances for the year came in Round 5 against Adelaide with 20 disposals and two goals.
He won a rising star nomination in Round 3 after his outstanding performance in his side’s win over Mebourne, where he gathered 17 possessions and kicked two classy goals in wet conditions.
The Giants have, however, could be bolstered by the inclusion of key defender Tim Mohr and former Sydney Swans goal sneak Jed Lamb.
Round 11
Hawthorn v GWS GIANTS
Sunday 1 June
MCG, 4.40pm
HAWTHORN
B: Stratton Schoenmakers Duryea
HB: Suckling Hodge Birchall
C: Smith Sewell Hill
HF: Lewis Gunston Breust
F: Burgoyne Hale Roughead
Foll: Ceglar Shiels Puopolo
Interchange from: Cheney Hallahan O'Brien Langford Simpkin Hartung Litherland
In: J.Roughead , K.Cheney , A.Litherland , T.O'Brien
Out: B.McEvoy (Corked Hamstring)
GWS
B: Shaw Corr Hampton
HB: Kennedy Frost Treloar
C: Hoskin-Elliott Townsend Tomlinson
HF: Palmer Patton Scully
F: Lamb Cameron Smith
R: Mumford Ward Shiel
I/C (from): Mohr, Jaksch, Whitfield, Addison, Giles, Wilson, Barrett
In: Jed Lamb, Tim Mohr, Kristian Jaksch, Nathan Wilson, Jake Barrett, Sam Frost
Out: Joshua Kelly (eye), Stephen Coniglio (shoulder), Stephen Gilham (omitted)
