GWS will name 19-year-old Max Gruzewski for his first AFL match this Saturday for a crucial clash and tough test against a rampaging Swans' side.
The announcement was made via a usually cheeky and cryptic twitter post from the club on Thursday afternoon ahead of selection.
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) June 20, 2024
With superstar defender Sam Taylor sidelined indefinitely with a ruptured testicle, 192cm Gruzewksi has some major shoes to fill, especially if he is set to replace the All-Australian at full-back, where he proved to be a capable performer in juniors.
He will probably line up forward however, where he has impressed at VFL level, slotting two goals from five shots and seven marks in the Giants' recent outing against Port Melbourne, also pinch-hitting in the ruck at some stoppages.
With Jack Buckley and Leek Aleer in-form as key defenders, pressure won't be mounting on Gruzewski to take a role in defence with the worrisome matchup of nine-goal Joel Amartey. Indeed, his position remains undisclosed.
The recent form of former No. 1 draft pick Aaron Cadman, who has managed just four goals from his past five games, makes him a watch for omission, with the likelihood being Gruzewksi claims his spot.
"It'll be an interesting discussion. Aaron (Cadman) brings so many strengths to the table, he may not have had the perfect month but he provides a target for us and is certainly good on the ground," Assistant coach Ben Hart told reporters on Thursday.
Coach Adam Kingsley has been absent from training as he deals with COVID, but believes he should be okay for Saturday.
Hart stepped in as an assistant to replace the sick senior coach for the mid-week press conference, and was able to provide a hint on his injured superstar Sam Taylor, revealing a rough time period of a couple of weeks on the sidelines.
"I think anywhere from seven to 15 days, but who knows. He's got to get himself right and then get back and train but hopefully it's not too long," Hart said.
"He's a tough player, that's for sure, I think they're still trying to piece it together (how and when it happened) but we think it was in the third quarter."
The return of Lachie Ash provides a slight silver-lining, with the good form he has displayed off the half-back line this season.
Saturday shapes as the Giants' biggest game of the year so far, with the chance to claim what would the biggest scalp of the season. A win at home may re-solidify their status as a top four candidate with a tremendous confidence boost over the clear-cut benchmark of the competition.
