Setback for new GIANT

The 18-year-old will be on a restricted training program for the next 12-16 weeks, and if he recovers as expected, will resume full training in late January.

Finlayson was selected by the GIANTS at last month’s NAB AFL Academy Player Bidding meeting, and will officially join the club at the NAB AFL Draft, to be held later this month on the Gold Coast, along with fellow Academy product Jack Steele.

Finlayson grew up in the Riverina, stands a towering 195cm tall, tips the scales at 82kg, and is, by his own admission, growing at a rate of knots.

A versatile player with elite running ability considering his size, he can play in a key position at either end of the ground, or push up to the wing, where he produced his standout NEAFL display of 2014, amassing 27 disposals, plucking 13 marks, and kicking two goals, to be the only non-listed GIANTS player named in the sides’ best, in their 37-point win over Queanbeyan.

While his program is limited for the time being, Finlayson joined his first to fourth year GIANTS teammates at pre-season training, which kicked off earlier this week.