Up to seven players could make their Crows debut against North Melbourne in Sunday’s sold-out NAB Challenge clash in Port Lincoln.
Trade period recruits Kyle Cheney and Luke Lowden, defenders Harrison Wigg and Sam Siggins, and rookie-listed trio Jake Kelly, Reilly O’Brien and Keenan Ramsey have been included in a squad of 29 for Adelaide’s opening pre-season game.
Wigg was selected with the Club’s second pick (No.35 overall) in last year’s AFL National Draft, while O’Brien and Ramsey became Crows in the Rookie Draft.
Siggins, 20, is in line to play his first game since being recruited with pick No.62 in the 2012 National Draft. In his second year on the rookie list, Kelly could also pull on the tricolours for the first time.
If named in the final team, Ramsey and 2014 leading goalkicker Eddie Betts, who both hail from Port Lincoln, will play in front of family and friends at Centenary Oval.
Nathan van Berlo will make his long-awaited return from injury. Van Berlo hasn’t played at any level since rupturing his Achilles tendon at training in January last year. The match will be Taylor Walker’s first as captain.
Get pre-season stats and facts in Go Figure
Experienced players Scott Thompson, David Mackay, Sam Jacobs, Richard Douglas and Patrick Dangerfield will sit out the game as part of their management ahead of Round One. Mackay (hamstring) and Jacobs (knee) have returned to full training after minor setbacks.
Defenders Brent Reilly (fractured skull), Andy Otten (knee) and Sam Shaw (hamstring), and half-forward Riley Knight (ankle) were unavailable for selection because of injury. Matt Crouch is building towards full fitness after ankle surgery.
The Club is taking a conservative approach with first-year talls Jake Lever, Harry Dear and Mitch McGovern, as well as rookie Anthony Wilson.
The squad of 29 will be reduced to 26 just prior to the game on Sunday.
The game, which starts at 4:10pm (local time), is officially sold out. This means no tickets or membership scans will be available on match day. Only pre-purchased ticket holders will be admitted entry.
The game will be live streamed on afc.com.au. Highlights will also be available during and after the match. There will be rolling coverage on afc.com.au, as well as updates on our official Twitter account, @Adelaide_FC, and Facebook page. The Club website will also be the place to go for post-match interviews and analysis.
Fans in South Australia can listen to the game on radio station FIVEaa. Another radio call of the game will also be available on SEN via Crocmedia in Victoria.
The Crows will remain on the Eyre Peninsula on March 2-3 for the Club’s 2015 Australia Post AFL Community Camp. During the two-day camp, the Crows will visit more than 30 schools, hospitals and aged care homes stretching from Elliston and Port Neill. Kids will be treated to a free AFL Auskick Coaching Clinic with the players.
Locals will also have the chance to watch the team train at two open sessions at Centenary Oval from 10:00am on Saturday, February 28 and also Tuesday, March 3, from 10:00am. Each session will run approximately one hour.
Adelaide’s second NAB Challenge game against Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Thursday, March 12. See the NAB Challenge fixture in full
The squad of 29 is:
1. James Podsiadly
2. Brad Crouch
4. Josh Jenkins
7. Nathan van Berlo
8. Mitch Grigg
9. Rory Sloane
10. Matthew Jaensch
11. Matthew Wright
12. Daniel Talia
13. Taylor Walker
15. Kyle Hartigan
16. Luke Brown
17. Sam Kerridge
18. Eddie Betts
20. Sam Siggins
23. Charlie Cameron
25. Kyle Cheney
27. Tom Lynch
28. Cam Ellis-Yolmen
29. Rory Laird
31. Jarryd Lyons
33. Brodie Smith
35. Harrison Wigg
36. Brodie Martin
40. Luke Lowden
43. Reilly O’Brien
45. Ricky Henderson
46. Keenan Ramsey
47. Jake Kelly
