GREATER Western Sydney has resisted the urge to blood speedster Jarrod Pickett, with the No.4 draft pick not making the Giants' final team for its NAB Challenge game against Essendon.
In what will be Kevin Sheedy's farewell to the Giants before the club's inaugural coach starts a new role at Essendon next week, the Giants have taken in a reasonably experienced line-up for the Spotless Stadium clash.
Pickett, ruckman Rory Lobb and exciting wingman Will Hoskin-Elliott have been left out of the final squad of 26, with Tom Downie and Jake Barrett the Giants' substitutes. It will be Barrett's first game in Giants colours.
Essendon has cut two of its top-up players for the meeting, with Sam Michael and Jordan Schroder making way and Irish recruit Conor McKenna also out of the final squad.
Orazio Fantasia and James Magner will start as substitutes for the Bombers, who have a more senior team this week with the inclusions of Brendon Goddard, Adam Cooney and James Gwilt.
Players from both clubs will form a guard of honour for Sheedy before the game for confirmation of his move to Essendon this week.
Spotless Stadium, Friday March 13, 7.10PM AEDT
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Out: Jarrod Pickett, Rory Lobb, Will Hoskin-Elliott
Substitutes: Tom Downie, Jake Barrett
ESSENDON
Out: Sam Michael, Conor McKenna, Jordan Schroder
Substitutes: Orazio Fantasia, James Magner
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY v ESSENDON
Spotless Stadium, Friday March 13, 7.10PM AEDT
Greater Western Sydney
1. Phil Davis, 2. Curtly Hampton, 3. Stephen Coniglio, 4. Toby Greene, 5. Lachie Whitfield, 7. Rhys Palmer, 10. Devon Smith, 11. Jed Lamb, 14. Tom Bugg, 15. Tim Golds, 16. Nathan Wilson, 17. Adam Treloar, 18. Jeremy Cameron, 20. Adam Tomlinson, 21. Matt Buntine, 23. Heath Shaw, 25. Cam McCarthy, 26. Jarrod Pickett, 27. Andrew Phillips, 29. Zac Williams, 33. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 35. Aidan Corr, 36. James Stewart, 37. Rory Lobb, 38. Jack Steele, 40. Adam Kennedy, 41. Shane Mumford, 43. Jake Barrett, 44. Tom Downie
Essendon
6. Joe Daniher, 7. Zach Merrett, 9. Brendon Goddard, 10 Nick O’Brien, 11. David Zaharakis, 13. Adam Cooney, 14 Jason Ashby, 19. Shaun Edwards, 20. Jackson Merrett, 27. Jon Giles, 28. Elliott Kavanagh, 29. Patrick Ambrose, 30. Kyle Langford, 35. Marty Gleeson, 36 Lauchlan Dalgleish, 42 James Gwilt, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna, 46. Orazio Fantasia, 47. Marcus Marigliani, 50. James Polkinghorne, 54. Josh Freezer, 56. Jordan Schroder, 74. Mitch Clisby, 76. James Magner, 77. Sam Michael, 73. Mitch Brown, 72. Clinton Jones, 75. Jared Petrenko
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY v ESSENDON
Spotless Stadium, Friday March 13, 7.10PM AEDT
Greater Western Sydney
1. Phil Davis, 2. Curtly Hampton, 3. Stephen Coniglio, 4. Toby Greene, 5. Lachie Whitfield, 7. Rhys Palmer, 10. Devon Smith, 11. Jed Lamb, 14. Tom Bugg, 15. Tim Golds, 16. Nathan Wilson, 17. Adam Treloar, 18. Jeremy Cameron, 20. Adam Tomlinson, 21. Matt Buntine, 23. Heath Shaw, 25. Cam McCarthy, 26. Jarrod Pickett, 27. Andrew Phillips, 29. Zac Williams, 33. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 35. Aidan Corr, 36. James Stewart, 37. Rory Lobb, 38. Jack Steele, 40. Adam Kennedy, 41. Shane Mumford, 43. Jake Barrett, 44. Tom Downie
Essendon
6. Joe Daniher, 7. Zach Merrett, 9. Brendon Goddard, 10 Nick O’Brien, 11. David Zaharakis, 13. Adam Cooney, 14 Jason Ashby, 19. Shaun Edwards, 20. Jackson Merrett, 27. Jon Giles, 28. Elliott Kavanagh, 29. Patrick Ambrose, 30. Kyle Langford, 35. Marty Gleeson, 36 Lauchlan Dalgleish, 42 James Gwilt, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna, 46. Orazio Fantasia, 47. Marcus Marigliani, 50. James Polkinghorne, 54. Josh Freezer, 56. Jordan Schroder, 74. Mitch Clisby, 76. James Magner, 77. Sam Michael, 73. Mitch Brown, 72. Clinton Jones, 75. Jared Petrenko
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY v ESSENDON
Spotless Stadium, Friday March 13, 7.10PM AEDT
Greater Western Sydney
1. Phil Davis, 2. Curtly Hampton, 3. Stephen Coniglio, 4. Toby Greene, 5. Lachie Whitfield, 7. Rhys Palmer, 10. Devon Smith, 11. Jed Lamb, 14. Tom Bugg, 15. Tim Golds, 16. Nathan Wilson, 17. Adam Treloar, 18. Jeremy Cameron, 20. Adam Tomlinson, 21. Matt Buntine, 23. Heath Shaw, 25. Cam McCarthy, 26. Jarrod Pickett, 27. Andrew Phillips, 29. Zac Williams, 33. Will Hoskin-Elliott, 35. Aidan Corr, 36. James Stewart, 37. Rory Lobb, 38. Jack Steele, 40. Adam Kennedy, 41. Shane Mumford, 43. Jake Barrett, 44. Tom Downie
Essendon
6. Joe Daniher, 7. Zach Merrett, 9. Brendon Goddard, 10 Nick O’Brien, 11. David Zaharakis, 13. Adam Cooney, 14 Jason Ashby, 19. Shaun Edwards, 20. Jackson Merrett, 27. Jon Giles, 28. Elliott Kavanagh, 29. Patrick Ambrose, 30. Kyle Langford, 35. Marty Gleeson, 36 Lauchlan Dalgleish, 42 James Gwilt, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna, 46. Orazio Fantasia, 47. Marcus Marigliani, 50. James Polkinghorne, 54. Josh Freezer, 56. Jordan Schroder, 74. Mitch Clisby, 76. James Magner, 77. Sam Michael, 73. Mitch Brown, 72. Clinton Jones, 75. Jared Petrenko.
#ThanksSheeds pic.twitter.com/c8la6YFGv7
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) March 13, 2015