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Giants hope to regain injured quartet for AFL finals

3 minute read

GWS lost to the Western Bulldogs in their last game of the AFL regular season but will hope to head into a qualifying final with good news on the injury front.

JAKE RICCARDI.
JAKE RICCARDI. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

GWS are hopeful of regaining key quartet Brent Daniels, Toby Bedford, Isaac Cumming and Jake Riccardi for their AFL qualifying final.

Daniels (tight back) and Bedford (calf soreness) were late withdrawals, along with Conor Stone (illness), from Sunday's 37-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at Ballarat's Mars Stadium.

When asked if the trio would be available for a potential qualifying final - likely to be against minor premiers Sydney - coach Adam Kingsley said "Yes", before adding "I shouldn't say that, should I?"

"So Toby had a sore calf through the week that was persistent, didn't go away," he said. 

"So I would expect to get him back, but we'll assess that at the end of next week.

"(Daniels) woke up with a bit of a sore back and with his history of lower leg injuries, we thought we're not in a position where we can risk him. He's an extremely important player for us.

"So we took an extremely precautionary approach with him. I would imagine he plays. 

"Stone was crook last night and into the morning and just hadn't recovered at all, so we couldn't play him."

Nick Haynes, Xavier O'Halloran and Callum Brown (substitute) were called up, with Brown flying south on Sunday morning.

Lachlan Ash should also return from suspension.

Cumming is recovering from a serious hamstring injury while Riccardi is working his way back after surgery on a dislocated finger.

Kingsley expected both to be able to play in the first final.

"Isaac played a scrimmage this morning and got through fine, did a bit of extra running," Kingsley said.

"So he's fit and ready to play and so I presume we pick him.

"Ricca - his hand, he hasn't marked a ball or done any grappling or wrestling with it yet, so he's still got to get through that with comfort. 

"But from a physical and running perspective he's in really good shape, so we'll just assess that leading into the week."

GWS were well beaten around the ball on Sunday and a "disappointed" Kingsley hoped his charges would learn from the experience.

"We got a bit of an audit today, I reckon," Kingsley said.

"We were beaten by a better team, so that's a nice little hit-up leading into finals, and if we're good enough, we'll change it."

That will likely come against Sydney, who have had the Giants' number this year.

"They've been the best team all year, Sydney, without question," Kingsley said.

"Like everyone, they've had a little bit of a dip in form but it seems like they've recovered well.

"They've beaten us twice this year. So it's going to be a tough match."

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