Jack Osborn will line up for Adelaide for his first game in six weeks when the SANFL Crows confront South Adelaide at Noarlunga on Sunday.
The 205cm rookie has been named at full forward after recovering from a serious back injury sustained in Adelaide’s Round Two clash with Sturt.
Goalkicking duo Tyson Davis-Neale and Gene Robinson and fellow development Crows Will Paynter and Sam Pfeiffer are the other inclusions into the 22-man squad.
Andy Otten, Jarryd Lyons and Mitch Grigg have been released for AFL duties while defender Matt Thompson is the final omission.
Adelaide State league coach Heath Younie said the addition of 24-year-old Osborn would provide a big boost to the side.
“Jack’s a great athlete and he gives us flexibility in that he can play in the ruck and as a genuine key forward,” Younie said.
“For such a big man, he moves really well and his disposal is improving all the time.
“He’s a popular player around the Club and it’s fantastic to see him back.”
The game kicks off at 1.10pm on Sunday at Noarlunga with free entry for all Crows ticketed members. Radio station 5RPH will broadcast the match live.
One young Crows fan in attendance will be chosen to join captain Ian Callinan for the coin toss to celebrate the Club’s first clash with the Panthers.
Supporters are also encouraged to join Crows players, coaches and staff for post-match presentations at Jimmy Deane’s during the half-time break of Adelaide’s AFL clash with Carlton.
In the remaining SANFL matches for Round Eight, reigning premiers Norwood host the Eagles on Friday night; Sturt travel to Elizabeth to confront Central District; North Adelaide and Port Adelaide battle at Prospect while West Adelaide and Glenelg clash on Saturday afternoon.
The SANFL team is:
B: Riley Knight, Luke Thompson, Sam Siggins
HB: Brent Reilly, Sam Shaw, Jake Kelly
C: Will Paynter, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Rory Atkins
HF: Alex Spina, Shaun McKernan, James Battersby
F: Jason Porplyzia, Jack Osborn, Tyson Davis-Neale
R: Angus Graham, Jared Petrenko, Ian Callinan (c)
Interchange (from): Gene Robinson, Michael O’Malley, Tom Carroll, Sam Pfeiffer
In: Osborn, Davis-Neale, Paynter, Robinson, Pfeiffer
Out: Otten, Lyons, Grigg, M. Thompson
Crows ticketed members receive free entry to all of Adelaide’s SANFL matches in 2014. Click here to browse the Club’s membership options and join the 19th Man today.
