GWS UPDATE

[Ricochet]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/131737/default.aspx

Veteran Giants power back

GREATER Western Sydney veterans Dean Brogan and Luke Power will return from injury in a practice match against the Sydney Swans reserves on Friday in a major boost ahead of next week's clash with North Melbourne. (why so soon!?!?!)

It will be Brogan's first appearance in the orange and charcoal following his switch from Port Adelaide, with the ruckman sitting out the entire pre-season with bulging discs in his back.

Power has been sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury and the Giants co-captain will also return tomorrow in the scratch match in Blacktown.

With both sides having a bye this week after kicking off the AFL season last Saturday, the match has been organised to assist some players returning from injury, plus those pushing for senior selection.

Highly-rated young Giants Adam Treloar and Matthew Buntine will also play, while defender Tony Armstrong will don the Swans colours for the first time since his switch from Adelaide late last year.

Following 174 matches with Port, Brogan is excited to play his first game for his new club, when he will face Swans ruckman Mark Seaby.

"I just want to get through and get a bit of fitness and put my hand up for next week," Brogan told AFL.com.au.

"I'm not looking to set the world on fire tomorrow, just get through and then hit the track next week and get ready for North Melbourne.

"It's going to be a good hit-out for me going up against [Seaby].

"Instead of going up against an 18-year-old who is finding his way, I get to practice against a very established player, so I'm looking forward to it."

In Brogan's absence, former Port stable-mate Jonathan Giles has been performing admirably in the ruck.

But the Giants' next two opponents - the Kangaroos in Hobart and West Coast in Blacktown - boast formidable ruck duos.

So Brogan wants to get himself ready to help Giles against North's Todd Goldstein and Hamish McIntosh and Eagles tandem Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox.

"The body is good so I'm going to have a bit of a run around," Brogan said.

"I've got a couple of bulging discs that flared up about a month ago, so I didn't do anything for a couple of weeks, but the last two weeks I've been doing a lot of conditioning.

"Gilesy's been going well in the ruck, so there's been no rush to get back.

"But now we've got a couple of big games with some teams that play two rucks, so there's a bit of urgency to get back and hopefully get selected."

The Swans will also have an experienced line-up, including Seaby, Jarred Moore and Trent Dennis-Lane.

After pre-season knee and thigh problems, Armstrong can't wait to represent the club he supported as a child for the first time.

"I'm pretty keen to get out there and have a run," he said.

"It's been a pretty tough pre-season so it's good to put that behind me and have a kick of the footy.

"All the guys will be out there pushing to try to play seniors. Hopefully everyone has a red-hot crack, because I certainly will be."

[TMurphBROWNLOW]

NOOOO THOSE TWO GUN ROOKS ARE BACK TOO SOON :'( RIP DOWNGRADE TARGETS <3

[Ricochet]

NOOOO THOSE TWO GUN ROOKS ARE BACK TOO SOON :'( RIP DOWNGRADE TARGETS <3

hopefully 3 or 4 games in the ressies to get fitness up.. + two games and get them on the bubble
we can only hope

[Spite]

Hopefully giles will be alright to dominate!!!

[mezzoculo]

I'm actually most disappointed to see Armstrong back after 1 week! Damn lying Longmire  >:(

[Memphistopheles]

Hopefully giles will be alright to dominate!!!

Hopefully Brogan returns and ruins peoples 3 rook ruck strategy :P

[Ricochet]

Hopefully giles will be alright to dominate!!!

Hopefully Brogan returns and ruins peoples 3 rook ruck strategy :P

+1 hahaha

[Bak2Form]

dammmmmmmm..... to soon to see Treloar

[EPICNESS]

damn!

[boo-yaa]

doubt buldging disc's will go away easily but, he'll need to be rested every 2nd week, please sheeds....

[RiOtChEsS]

old guy, bulging discs, early return...

[Justin Bieber]

Tralour, wait a couple of more weeks :(

[Windigo]

Surely Giles will still play ruck.

Broges is too old.

[jason2889]

Brogan will play 5-10 minutes each quarter at most I would think, so shouldn't ruin people with the 3 rooks in the ruck strategy unfortunately  >:( .. Maybe giles could even rest forward when broges comes in, kicked a decent set shot on the weekend and will provide a big target.