Midfielder Brad Crouch and rookie Ben Dowdell are in line to make their league debuts in opposing teams at Hickinbotham Oval on Saturday night in a split first round of SANFL this weekend.
Crouch been named on a wing for West Adelaide in the Club’s season-opener against South Adelaide.
Ineligible for AFL selection until 2013, Crouch was granted special permission to play in this year’s NAB Cup, pulling on the Crows guernsey for the first time against the Brisbane Lions in Alice Springs.
The talented 18-year-old will spend the rest of the season playing for the Bloods.
Rookie-listed by Adelaide under the AFL’s ‘Alternative Talent’ rule, Dowdell has made remarkable progress since making the switch to football from US College basketball in October.
The competitive 23-year-old has earned a place on the extended Panthers interchange bench after a standout performance in the reserves last weekend, where he amassed 40 hit-out and 20 possessions and kicked three goals.
A possible league debut in round one is a significant achievement for the 200cm, 100kg, ruckman whose Australian Rules experience is limited to only a handful of games as a teenager growing up in New South Wales.
Rookie Rory Laird is also a chance to make his league debut for West after being included on an extended interchange bench.
Forward Chris Knights and defender Luke Thompson will both line up in Woodville-West Torrens’ season-opener against Port Magpies at Thebarton Oval on Friday night.
Knights, who will be keen to impress after missing out on selection for Adelaide’s NAB Cup Grand Final win over West Coast, will start at half-forward while Thompson has been named at half-back.
Recruits Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Nick Joyce and rookie Sam Martyn have been named in the Eagles reserves team.
There are only two games (Eagles v Port Magpies and South v West) for premiership points this weekend, with the opening round of the SANFL split over two weeks.
In other local league action, Norwood will play Sturt in a trial game at Coopers Stadium on Friday night, while Glenelg will take on Central District in a trial at Elizabeth on Saturday.
