Careers Kick Off With New Season
The Age
Friday March 21, 2008
THE new AFL season will begin with a host of debutants, while many will be in unfamiliar surrounds as several big names appear for their first official hitout.
Hawthorn has selected Port Adelaide retiree Stuart Dew for its match against Melbourne, while a host of recycled players, including discarded West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner, will make their debuts for St Kilda in the clash with Sydney.The Saints have named Gardiner, who has not played since round 15, 2006, on the bench, alongside former Geelong forward Charlie Gardiner. Ex-Swan Adam Schneider will play against his old side and Jarryn Geary, elevated from the rookie list, will also play his first game.The Swans have two new players. Former Adelaide defender Martin Mattner will play and Craig Bird, a holder of a NSW scholarship last year, will make his senior debut.Collingwood has added another Nathan Brown to the competition, with Nathan J. Brown, a former basketballer who has been on the list for a year already, named to make his debut against Fremantle tomorrow. Former Brisbane Lions ruckman Cam Wood, will also play in the opening game of the season for his new team. Chris Egan, played just one game last year after suffering a knee injury but the exciting forward is back this week named on the interchange bench.The Dockers have named former Essendon defender Mark Johnson, a veteran of 194 games with the Bombers, for his first game with Fremantle.After more than a year on the sidelines after a knee reconstruction, Daniel Bradshaw returns for the Lions in their match against West Coast, while former Demon Travis Johnstone makes his debut for his new team.The Eagles have an experienced line-up with no new players named for round one.Hawthorn will be missing stars Shane Crawford, Luke Hodge, Campbell Brown and Jordan Lewis, all suspended, for its match against Melbourne on Sunday, but as well as Dew, has named exciting young forward Cyril Rioli in the first team of the season. Josh Kennedy, the third generation of Hawthorn's famous Kennedy dynasty, and Cameron Stokes are named on an extended bench.The Hawks also have 19-year-old Jarryd Morton on the extended interchange bench, while Melbourne has chosen his younger brother, Cale - the No. 4 selection from last year's draft - on its extended bench, along with Isaac Weetra.After two seasons on the sidelines with osteitis pubis, Brent Moloney is a possible return to football this week after he, too, was named on the Demons' extended bench.The Western Bulldogs have named former Adelaide players Ben Hudson and Scott Welsh for the match against the Crows and will also welcome back classy midfielder Ryan Griffen, who missed the second half of last year with a knee injury. The Crows could potentially have three new players on Sunday with Kurt Tippett, David Mackay and former Port Adelaide player Brad Symes all named on the extended interchange bench.As expected, Nathan Thompson comes back for his first match in 12 months for North Melbourne and fellow knee victim Leigh Harding is also a chance of playing after he was named on the extended bench. Defender Scott Thompson will make his debut for the Roos, while Sam Power and Ben Ross are in with a chance.North's opposition, Essendon, has no new players in round one, but the Bombers do welcome back Alwyn Davey, who missed the last half of last year with a broken arm, while Sam Lonergan gets his second game having made his debut in 2006.
© 2008 The Age