Jason Porplyzia and Chris Knights will play their first games of 2012 in Adelaide’s NAB Cup clash with the Brisbane Lions at Alice Springs on Saturday night, while promising teenager Brad Crouch has also been named in the 28-man team and will make his debut.
Porplyzia (corked calf) and Knights (hamstring) missed the Crows’ opening-round NAB Cup wins over Carlton and Port Adelaide last weekend because of minor injuries.
The match against the Lions at Traeger Park will be Porplyzia’s first hit-out since dislocating his shoulder in round one last season.
Coach Brenton Sanderson said it would be exciting to see a fit Porplyzia back in action.
“It’ll be Porps’ first game since March 26 last year,” Sanderson told afc.com.au.
“He’s busting at the seams to play.
“Chris Knights will also play his first game of the year, so it will be good for him to have a run even though he completed most of the pre-season.”
Selected by Adelaide in Greater Western Sydney’s ‘mini-draft’ of eligible 17-year-olds last October, Crouch is unavailable for selection in the AFL premiership season until 2013, but has been granted special permission to play in this year’s pre-season competition.
“Brad will play, which is exciting for the Club and our members and supporters,” Sanderson said.
“He’s trained hard and impressed over the pre-season, so he deserves his chance.
“It’s probably the only time Brad will play in the NAB Cup, so make sure you log onto afc.com.au to watch him in action.”
As Sanderson predicted last week, seven senior players have been left out of the team.
Skipper Nathan van Berlo, Scott Thompson, Michael Doughty, Brent Reilly, Kurt Tippett, Sam Jacobs and David Mackay will be rested for the trip to Alice Springs, while forward Matt Wright will miss with a corked thigh.
Brodie Martin has been named as an emergency, but won’t travel with the team on Friday morning.
“We’ve got seven of our most experienced players out,” Sanderson said.
“It’s all part of preparing our side for round one of the regular season.
“It also creates one less interstate trip for those guys, who are experienced travellers, and creates an opportunity for us to expose some other players to travelling with the team.
“It sounds easy enough, but it can be more complicated than what you might think.”
New leadership group member Patrick Dangerfield will lead the team in the absence of van Berlo, vice-captain Scott Thompson and also deputy vice-captain Ben Rutten, who is recovering from foot surgery.
“With van Berlo and Scott Thompson not there and Rutten being injured, it’s a great opportunity for ‘Danger’ to be skipper,” Sanderson said.
“Rory Sloane will give him great support, as will the other guys in the emerging leaders group, Jared Petrenko, Bernie Vince and Richard Douglas, so we’ve still got some experience there.”
The Lions will also be without key players in Jonathan Brown (facial fracture), Daniel Merrett, Simon Black and Jed Adcock, and Sanderson said he expected a strong contest.
“There are guys playing for us this week, who won’t want to let the opportunity slip,” he said.
“There would be guys thinking that with those senior players out, it’s their opportunity to stand up and play well and they’ll be desperate to make the team for round one.
“We’re certainly taking up a side that will be expecting to win.”
A LIVE video stream of the game at Traeger Park will be available via a link on afc.com.au.
Radio station FIVEaa will also broadcast the match, which begins at 8:10pm SA time.
The team is:
Click on a name to view that player's 2012 profile
1. Richard Tambling
2. Brad Crouch
6. Luke Thompson
8. Lewis Johnston
9. Rory Sloane
10. Matt Jaensch
12. Daniel Talia
13. Taylor Walker
15. Brad Symes
17. Bernie Vince
18. Graham Johncock
20. Josh Jenkins
21. Chris Knights
22. Andy Otten
23. Jared Petrenko
26. Richard Douglas
27. Tom Lynch
29. Sam Kerridge
31. Jarryd Lyons
32. Patrick Dangerfield (acting captain)
33. Brodie Smith
34. Sam Shaw
35. Shaun McKernan
37. Ian Callinan
40. Jason Porplyzia
43. Aidan Riley
45. Ricky Henderson
49. Tim McIntyre
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