A host of familiar names and more than a dozen new faces feature in Adelaide’s finalised 31-man SANFL development squad for Season 2016.

Returning players comprise almost two-thirds of the roster, which the Club will call upon to help field its SANFL team throughout the course of the season.

Eighteen members of last year’s development squad will continue on from 2015.

Crows SANFL captain Luke Carey is the most experienced SANFL campaigner in the squad, boasting 23 League appearances.

Dean Bailey Award winner Matthew Spencely (18 games), and former Central District pair Josh Wittwer (13) and Brock Castree (12) are other familiar faces with notable SANFL experience.

Charlie Molyneux, Nick Mott, Matthew Johncock, Ben O’Donohue, Dylan Ribbons, Dylan Schoenmakers, and Tyson Lindsay will also carry on for a second season after playing their first SANFL games in Crows colours last year. Luke Andruszkiewicz, Kynan Betts and Jordan Wilson-King were also part of Adelaide’s development squad last season but are yet to play a game for the Club.

Three of the roster’s new additions have senior SANFL experience.

Former Glenelg forward Wade Hancock, who kicked two goals in Adelaide’s first SANFL trial of the year against Port Adelaide, fellow Tiger Scott Spriggs and reigning Port District best and fairest Trent Heffernan have all tasted League football.

Many of Adelaide’s new recruits displayed strong goalscoring form with local clubs across the state last year.

Michael Hobbs kicked 33 goals for Moonta in the Yorke Peninsula Football League, Torrens Valley addition Damon Hill notched 22 goals, while Alex Jolly (29 goals) and Matthew Leigh (33) proved dangerous at Amateur league level.

The squad was finalised on Tuesday night following a practice match with the Adelaide University Blacks last week. The 31-man squad is the result of almost four months of planning and training from an initial list of nearly 300 applicants.

GM of Football Administration Phil Harper was pleased to see many returning players commit for another season.

“It’s fantastic to have that continuity and I think it’s a great reflection of the Club, our coaches and the program in general,” Harper said.

“We’re also thrilled to welcome a few new faces and hope many of them can earn the chance to play SANFL footy this year.

“It’s a great opportunity for players to find their way back into the SANFL system. We’re lucky to be able to play our part in that process.”

Adelaide contests its final SANFL trial game against South Adelaide at Football Park at 11am on Saturday, March 12. Entry to the trial is free to the public.

The Club’s opening match of the SANFL premiership season is against West Adelaide at City Mazda Stadium on Saturday, March 26 at 2.10pm.