Adelaide has made a late change to its team to play Hawthorn at the MCG this afternoon, with debutant Sam Kerridge brought in to replace Rick Henderson (soreness).
Selected with the Crows’ first pick (No.27 overall) in last year’s AFL Draft, has made an immediate impact at West Lakes.
The ready-made, 188cm, 86kg, midfielder impressed throughout the NAB Cup, showcasing his strength and speed at the stoppages.
The former Bendigo Pioneers onballer is also an excellent endurance athlete, having finished fourth in both the 3km time-trial and shuttle run (beep test) at the 2011 Draft Combine.
He will become the fifth player to wear the No.29 in a premiership match for Adelaide, following Anthony Ingerson, Brent Williams, James Thiessen and James Sellar.
The Crows have now made two forced changes to the team that beat the Western Bulldogs last weekend.
Richard Douglas (hamstring) was ruled out of the clash with the Hawks earlier in the week, with Brodie Martin named as his replacement in the selected 22.
Today’s clash with the Hawks will be Martin’s 10th AFL game in five years at West Lakes.
The dashing 23-year-old made his debut against St Kilda in round 16, 2009, only to rupture his ACL in the Showdown the next week.
After 12 months on the sidelines, he made a promising return in late-2010, but battled to regain consistency in his first full season back from the injury in 2011.
Martin was limited to only one game - as a substitute against Collingwood - in the NAB Cup, but coach Brenton Sanderson said the former rookie had demanded selection with his form in the opening rounds of the SANFL.
“It’s great for Brodie because he’s had three very good games for Sturt and sometimes you’ve just got to reward players, who are in form,” Sanderson told afc.com.au.
“Brodie hardly missed a session right up until the week before we started playing the practice games. He had a slight hamstring, which set him back a couple of weeks because we were really conservative with it, but his form since coming back has been really good.
“He’s a beautiful kick and a good decision-maker. He’s only 180cm tall, but he’s pretty good in the air and can match it with taller players. Brodie’s young, but he’s not super-inexperienced. He’s been around the Club for a few years now, so I’m sure he’ll step up and play well.”
Click here to view full teams for both Adelaide and Hawthorn
Sanderson said Martin was likely to play on a wing and across half-back against the Hawks.
“It’s not quite a like-for-like (swap) with ‘Dougy’, so we’ll shuffle the side up a little bit,” he said.
“With ‘Dougy’ out, we feel like we can still get an advantage by bringing in a player in good nick.”
Emergencies Chris Knights and Sam Shaw will be released to play in the SANFL, while draftee Sam Kerridge - whose club Sturt has the bye - will travel to Melbourne with the team.
Sanderson said it had been a tough week at selection with so many players showing good form in the local league.
“We’ve had two wins and our form has been good. With Dougy going out, we reward a player who is in good form,” he said.
“The message to the players knocking on the door is to continue to play good footy, so that when they do come into the side they’re in good form.
“It’s frustrating for the players, who are playing well in the SANFL, but at the same time it’s a good position for the Club to be in.”
The team is:
B: Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Andy Otten
HB: Brent Reilly, Daniel Talia, Brodie Smith
C: Rory Sloane, Patrick Dangerfield, David Mackay
HF: Bernie Vince, Tom Lynch, Ian Callinan
F: Jason Porplyzia, Kurt Tippett, Taylor Walker
I/C: Doughty, Kerridge, Petrenko, Martin
EMERGENCIES: Matt Jaensch, Chris Knights, Sam Shaw
IN: Brodie Martin, Sam Kerridge
OUT: Richard Douglas (hamstring), Rick Henderson (soreness)
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