EXCITING
“I’m looking forward to it, I’m not too nervous at the moment, but as the game gets a little closer, I’m sure the nerves will start arriving,” Wonaeamirri told melbournefc.com.au.
“It will be fantastic to play in the same team with blokes like Aaron Davey, David Neitz, Russell Robertson, and Cameron Bruce.”
Wonaeamirri, originally from Darwin, is joined in the side by important backman Jared Rivers, who managed just three games in 2007 before being struck down by a chronic groin injury, and Chris Johnson who is in for his first game of the season.
Omitted from the side defeated by the Bulldogs by 99 points are Isaac Weetra, Jace Bode and Simon Buckley with Buckley named as an emergency along with Brent Moloney and James Frawley.
Premiership defender Max Rooke has forced his way into a strong
He is an emergency along with Brent Prismall and David Johnson.
Both White and Tivendale will play their first games of the 2008 season with White, 20, making his first senior appearance since round 14 of last season, while Tivendale, 28, will play his 186th match in the yellow and black.
Missing from the side that suffered its first loss of the season to
Hughes has been named as an emergency along with Jack Riewoldt and Luke McGuane.
Collingwood has made two changes with Ben Reid and Alan Toovey replacing Tyson Goldsack, who suffered a concussion in the two-point loss to the Brisbane Lions last week, and Chris Egan, who has been omitted.
John Anthony, Ryan Lonie and Danny Stanley are the emergencies.
Both
Tagger Robert Shirley has recovered from the calf strain that kept him out of the 76-point win over West Coast, but he dropped back to the emergency list on Friday along with Ivan Maric and Bryce Campbell who were all named in the initial extended squad.
The Power has followed suit with its three Thursday inclusions - Nick Lower, Damon White and Tom Logan – all named as emergencies when the final team was announced.
The Brisbane Lions have made just one forced change ahead of their clash with the Sydney Swans at the Gabba on Saturday night, with Robert Copeland replacing Josh Drummond in the side that defeated Collingwood in a thriller last week.
The Sydney Swans have made no changes to the side that handed Port Adelaide a hefty 68-point defeat at the SCG last Sunday.
Nick Smith, a left-footed midfielder from the Oakleigh Chargers, has been elevated off the rookie list and onto the emergency list along with Luke Brennan and Ben Mathews.
Essendon has made four changes as it looks to rebound from last week’s 99-point thrashing at the hands of Geelong with a win over Carlton at the MCG on Saturday night.
Courtenay Dempsey suffered a hamstring injury at Telstra Dome, Nathan Lovett-Murray is out with a groin strain and Henry Slattery and Jason Johnson have been dropped back to the emergency list along with Courtney Johns.
Into the side come Kyle Reimers, Angus Monfries, Damien Peverill and Andrew Lovett.
Matthew Kreuzer will make his much-anticipated AFL debut after Carlton named the No.1 draft pick at centre half-forward in the team to face Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night.
Full back Michael Jamison is back after missing one week with hamstring soreness, while Jake Edwards and Setanta O’hAilpin have been omitted.
Dennis Armfield, Ryan Jackson and Adam Bentick are the emergencies.
