Seven players yet to make their AFL debut have been included in an extended Adelaide squad to play Richmond in the JLT Community Series game at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Harrison Wigg, Dean Gore and Harry Dear, rookies Jono Beech, Hugh Greenwood, Paul Hunter and draftee Myles Poholke are part of a squad of 29, which will be reduced to 26 just prior to the match.
Recruits Troy Menzel and Curtly Hampton, who are yet to pull on the Crows jumper in a game for premiership points, have also been named to take on the Tigers.
Menzel and Hampton both joined the Club at the end of the 2015 season, but had interrupted first years at West Lakes. Gore, who was originally drafted by Geelong, also returned to his native South Australia in the same trade period.
Utility Wigg and key forward Dear are both entering their third seasons with Adelaide, while Beech, Greenwood and Hunter are second-year rookies. Poholke was Adelaide’s second pick (No.44 overall) in last year’s AFL National Draft.
Resilient defender Andy Otten will play at AFL level for the first time in more than two-and-a-half years. Otten, who has endured two knee reconstructions, made a successful comeback in the SANFL last season, but was unable to force his way into the senior team.
Adelaide’s forward line is at full strength, with captain Taylor Walker, two-time All Australian Eddie Betts and goalkickers Josh Jenkins, Tom Lynch and Mitch McGovern all selected.
Midfield trio Rory Sloane (fractured eye socket), Brad Crouch (hamstring) and Scott Thompson (shoulder), and young defender Jake Lever (hamstring) were among the players unavailable for selection this week.
See our latest injury update
Forward Riley Knight and first-round draft pick Jordan Gallucci are both being managed this week, but will be fit for the Club’s second JLT Community Series game. Tom Doedee wasn’t considered for selection because of knee soreness, which will be assessed in the coming weeks.
Coach Don Pyke tipped even more young players to get a taste of AFL in the Club’s second pre-season hit-out against Geelong.
Clubs can play up to 26 players in the opening round of the JLT Community Series – 18 on the field and eight on the interchange bench. Get up to speed with all the rules for the competition.
Friday night’s game starts at 7:40pm (local). It will be broadcast live on Fox Footy, who have exclusive television rights to the JLT Community Series. Fans can watch the game via the AFL Live App, which is offering a free two-week trial. More details here.
Club members with game access receive free entry to games in which their club is competing, subject to capacity, or can upgrade their membership to a reserved seat or register for a ticket in order to guarantee entry.
After playing the Tigers, the Crows will return to South Australia for their remaining two pre-season matches. Adelaide will play the Cats at Richmond Oval from 1:35pm (local) on Sunday, March 5, and then tackle the Brisbane Lions at Noarlunga on Saturday March 11 from 3:40pm (local).
Adelaide’s squad of 29 is:
1. Jonathon Beech
4. Josh Jenkins
8. Jake Kelly
10. Harrison Wigg
12. Daniel Talia
13. Taylor Walker
14. David Mackay
15. Kyle Hartigan
17. Curtly Hampton
18. Eddie Betts
20. Hugh Greenwood
21. Rory Atkins
22. Andy Otten
23. Charlie Cameron
24. Sam Jacobs
26. Richard Douglas
27. Tom Lynch
28. Cam Ellis-Yolmen
29. Rory Laird
30. Wayne Milera Junior
31. Myles Poholke
32. Troy Menzel
33. Brodie Smith
36. Dean Gore
37. Paul Hunter
38. Harry Dear
41. Mitch McGovern
43. Reilly O’Brien
44. Matt Crouch
