JACK Martin will play tonight's NAB Challenge match at Metricon Stadium after Gold Coast chose to omit youngsters Jackson Allen and Henry Schade from its initial squad.
Martin, 19, played in last year's pre-season competition but was ineligible to play the premiership fixtures because he was underage.
The talented West Australian is likely to play the Suns' round one fixture against Richmond on March 15 and will start his campaign tonight.
Gold Coast have chosen to use power forward Sam Day and ruckman Tom Nicholls – on the way back from off-season knee and quad injuries – as its substitutes.
Essendon have chosen to leave young trio Dylan van Unen, Lauchlan Dalgleish and Orazio Fantasia out of its initial squad.
Nick O'Brien and former GWS player Kurt Aylett are the Bombers' subs.
GOLD COAST: final team 1. Jaeger O’Meara, 3. Timmy Sumner, 4. Jack Martin, 5. Jarrod Harbrow, 9. Gary Ablett (c), 12. Sam Day, 13. Andrew Boston, 14. Matthew Warnock, 15. Daniel Gorringe, 17. Steven May, 18. Trent McKenzie, 19. Tom Lynch, , 21. Jeremy Taylor, 22. Tom Nicholls, 23. Charlie Dixon, 24. David Swallow, 25. Danny Stanley, 26. Matthew Shaw, 27. Clay Cameron, 32. Brandon Matera, 33. Aaron Hall, 35. Michael Rischitelli, 36. Greg Broughton, 37. Jesse Lonergan, 40. Sean Lemmens, 46. Josh Hall
ESSENDON: final team 1. Michael Hibberd, 5. Brent Stanton, 6. Joe Daniher, 7. Leroy Jetta, 10. Nick O’Brien, 11. David Zaharakis, 12. Mark Baguley, 14. Jason Ashby, 18. Michael Hurley, 20. Jackson Merrett, 21. Dyson Heppell, 22. Jake Carlisle, 24. Alex Browne, 25. Ariel Steinberg, 26. Cale Hooker, 27. Zach Merrett, 28. Elliott Kavanagh, 29 Cory Dell’olio, 30. Patrick Ryder, 32. Travis Colyer, 34. Kyle Hardingham, 35. Martin Gleeson, 39. Heath Hocking, 40. Ben Howlett, 43. Kurt Aylett, 44. Fraser Thurlow,
HOW TO WATCH THE GAME
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• Catch the match replay 12 hours after the siren on AFL.com.au
• Watching overseas? Click here to pick up your free NAB Challenge pass
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