GREATER Western Sydney veteran Ryan Griffen has withdrawn from Thursday night's JLT Community Series clash with Collingwood because of an ankle issue.
Griffen trained with the rest of the GWS squad at UNSW Canberra Oval on Wednesday but alerted team medical staff of some slight soreness in his left ankle later that afternoon.
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It's the same ankle the former Western Bulldogs captain had trouble with last year.
The 31-year-old first suffered the ankle syndesmosis injury in the Giants' round three win over North Melbourne, then re-injured himself later in the season when he was due to return to the field, with the second issue needing surgery.
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Griffen failed to play another senior game in 2017.
The Giants insist the gun midfielder should be right to face Sydney next Friday night but they're sure to be extra careful after last year's shocking run.
Griffen was in sparkling form in an inter-club match against the Swans last Friday night playing across half-back, and is likely to remain in defence this year to cover the loss of Zac Williams (Achilles) and Nathan Wilson (traded to Fremantle).
For the Magpies, James Aish is the only out due to a calf injury suffered on Tuesday.
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Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood, UNSW Canberra Oval, 7.20pm AEDT
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
B: P.Davis 1, J.Finlayson 31, D.Lloyd 38
HB: T.Mohr 39, A.Tomlinson 20, H.Shaw 23
C: L.Whitfield 6, C.Ward 8, J.Kelly 22
HF: S.Reid 50, J.Cameron 18, D.Shiel 5
F: M.de Boer 24, J.Patton 12, H.Himmelberg 27
Foll: D.Simpson 26, S.Coniglio 3, T.Taranto 14
I/C: N.Shipley 34, Z.Langdon 17, L.Tiziani 33, L.Keeffe 25, M.Flynn 30, H.Perryman 36, Z.Sproule 28
Emerg: J.Stein 42, J.Buckley 41, D.Buckley 43, S.Taylor 15
Out: R.Griffen
Notable absentees: Toby Greene, Rory Lobb, Brett Deledio, Tom Scully, Jacob Hopper, Zac Williams, Nick Haynes, Will Setterfield, Aidan Corr, Matt Buntine, Adam Kennedy, Ryan Griffen
COLLINGWOOD
B: L.Dunn 15, B.Mihocek 41, F.Appleby 31
HB: J.Crisp 25, T.Langdon 8, T.Phillips 21
C: J.Smith 40, T.Adams 13, B.Reid 20
HF: J.Stephenson 35, W.Hoskin-Elliott 32, T.Goldsack 6
F: C.Brown 17, M.Cox 46, B.Maynard 37
Foll: B.Grundy 4, S.Pendlebury 10, S.Sidebottom 22
I/C: J.Blair 11, C.Mayne 16, T.Varcoe 18, S.McLarty 23, J.Thomas 24, J.Daicos 26, T.Broomhead 29, A.Oxley 43
Emerg: S.Murray 9, B.Crocker 39, M.Scharenberg 12, J.Aish 14
Out: J.Aish
Notable absentees: Daniel Wells, Adam Treloar, Jamie Elliott, Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe, Jordan De Goey, Alex Fasolo, Levi Greenwood, James Aish
