Over a dozen Crows could play their first official game for Adelaide’s SANFL side this Saturday against North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.
Draftees Jake Lever, Harrison Wigg, Harry Dear and rookies Reilly O’Brien, Keenan Ramsey and 2014 Norwood premiership player Anthony Wilson are confirmed starters for Adelaide’s Round One opener against the Roosters.
First-round pick Lever played his first game in 18 months last Saturday since undergoing a knee reconstruction.
Keenan Ramsey booted three goals in the State League trial at Richmond Oval, while Wigg, O’Brien, Dear and Wilson all showed promising signs.
James Podsiadly and Scott Thompson are also in line for their first games for premiership points with the SANFL Crows. The veterans were among Adelaide’s best in the Club’s State League trial against West Adelaide.
Midfielders Matthew Spencely and Charlie Molyneux were the most impressive development players in last week’s hit-out. Dashing goalkicker Spencely will start on a wing while Molyneux has been named on the ball for Saturday’s Round One clash.
Second-year development squad members Sam Pfeiffer and Justin Smart will shore up Adelaide’s defence, while fresh faces Matthew Stent (Golden Grove), Nick Mott (Noarlunga), Josh Wittwer (Hahndorf), Jake Sutcliffe (Ardrossan), Brock Castree (Golden Grove) and Dylan Schoenmakers (Tea Tree Gully) have all been named on an extended interchange.
Find out more about our 2015 SANFL development squad.
Crows fans will need to wait longer for their first look at promising draftee Mitch McGovern. McGovern was built up carefully during his first AFL pre-season, but is not far away from following his fellow first-years in making his SANFL debut.
Podsiadly, Brodie Martin and Jarryd Lyons, who was the substitute in Adelaide’s Round One AFL victory, are also on the emergency list for the Crows’ clash with Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.
North Adelaide played three trials away from home during the pre-season and failed to post a victory on each occasion, suffering losses to South Adelaide, Norwood and Central District.
Adelaide downed the Roosters by four points in a thrilling contest the last time the two sides met in Round 11, 2014.
Crows ticketed members receive free entry to the game, which kicks off at 1.10pm at Prospect Oval, upon presentation of their members card.
The SANFL will provide live commentary of the match from 1pm on game day on the League’s official website and via the SANFL app.
Round Two kicks off with South Adelaide hosting Port Adelaide on Friday night at Noarlunga.
Saturday’s SANFL action sees Glenelg shooting for its first win against Sturt at Peter Motley Oval, the Eagles and West Adelaide to battle at Woodville Oval and premiership favourites Norwood will travel to Elizabeth to clash with Central District.
Adelaide’s SANFL team – Round One
B: Harrison Wigg (35), Jake Lever (6), Sam Pfeiffer (61)
HB: Jake Kelly (47), James Podsiadly (1), Justin Smart (53)
C: Matthew Spencely (50), Matt Crouch (44), Brodie Martin (36)
HF: Jarryd Lyons (31), Ian Callinan (37), Anthony Wilson (42)
F: Keenan Ramsey (46), Jack Osborn (30), Harry Dear (38)
FOL: Reilly O’Brien (43), Scott Thompson (5), Charlie Molyneux (56)
INT (from): Matthew Stent (62), Nick Mott (58), Josh Wittwer (48), Jake Sutcliffe (54), Brock Castree (57), Dylan Schoenmakers (55)
