GWS coach Adam Kingsley says the Giants have plans in place to contain Collingwood star Nick Daicos as much as possible in Friday night’s preliminary final.
Key points:
- Daicos has not played since injuring his knee in round 21
- He replaces the injured Taylor Adams in the Magpies’ squad
- Kingsley says the Giants are preparing to “minimise the damage” Daicos creates
Daicos will play for the first time in seven weeks since he fractured his knee in the Magpies’ round-21 loss to Hawthorn.
He has been named in place of injured on-baller Taylor Adams as the only change to the Magpies’ line-up for the clash with the Giants in the grand final qualifier at the MCG.
The 20-year-old was enjoying a stellar second season until his injury and was the popular Brownlow Medal favourite.
While Daicos has been sidelined since early August, Kingsley does not think he will be rusty upon return.
“The way he plays is really dynamic. He’s been training for a little while, so I don’t think he’ll lose that,” Kingsley said on Thursday.
“If we allow him to, he’ll play really well. I’m sure of that.”
When Collingwood belted the Giants by 65 points at the MCG in round nine, Daicos racked up 41 disposals.
But Kingsley said the Giants would not focus too heavily on Daicos.
“We have our plans around where he could line up,” Kinglsey said.
“To be fair, we’re not going to focus too much on him. We’re going to focus on ourselves.
“He’s a wonderful player, really difficult to stop. We’re well aware of what he can do if we allow him.
“Our plan will be to minimise the damage he causes.”
Daicos will join older brother Josh in the Magpies squad, while Adams nurses a hamstring injury.
The Magpies have been confident that Adams will be available should they win through to the grand final on Saturday week.
Jack Ginnivan (Collingwood) and Xavier O’Halloran (GWS) are the subs, with the Giants unchanged.
The winner of Friday night’s match will face either the Brisbane Lions or Carlton in the grand final.
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
