THE BRISBANE Lions have lifted a club-imposed suspension on midfielder Albert Proud in selecting their initial squad for Friday night's NAB Cup quarter-final against Essendon.
Proud, 20, was suspended indefinitely by the Lions after he was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm earlier this month.
Completing his best-ever pre-season before he was disciplined, Proud was also forced out of the AFL Qantas Indigenous All-Stars squad that played Adelaide on February 7.
The Lions said in statement at the time that Proud had been suspended from the club, but didn't reveal how long for.
Essendon welcomes back experienced forward Scott Lucas this week after giving him round one off and has also included 24-year-old midfielder Jason Winderlich.
Winderlich played just nine games in 2008 before two back operations ended his season. The club had feared for his career after the first surgery failed.
Lucas was troubled by knee and back injuries last year, which saw him also restricted to nine matches, and had post-season knee surgery.
The Bombers have rotated three players out of their line-up – Bachar Houli, Jarrod Atkinson and Irish rookie Michael Quinn, and selected six new faces in their extended squad of 29.
Joining Winderlich and Lucas are draftee David Zaharakis, David Myers, who missed the last eight rounds of 2008 with a foot injury, Darcy Daniher and speedster Alwyn Davey, who had a knee reconstruction after round five.
Along with Proud, the Lions have selected Daniel Bradshaw, who kicked 75 goals from 20 games last year, ruckman Matthew Leuenberger, much-improved defender Joel Patfull, Jason Roe, Matt Austin and Matt Tyler.
Travis Johnstone, Michael Rischitelli and Jared Brennan make way for them.
Click here to view the squads.
Dream Team watch – Albert Proud is rated a $223,800 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
Dream Team watch – Scott Lucas is rated a $222,800 forward in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
Dream Team watch – Jason Winderlich is rated a $307,100 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
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