Forwards Robbie Gray and Justin Westhoff will make their AFL debuts on Sunday against Hawthorn after being named in the Power’s final 22 on Friday evening.
Forwards Robbie Gray and Justin Westhoff will make their AFL debuts on Sunday against Hawthorn after being named in the Power’s final 22 on Friday evening.The two late picks at the 2006 NAB AFL Draft will become the third and fourth Power players to make their AFL debuts this year after fellow first-year players Nathan Krakouer and Adam Cockshell debuted in Round 1 against Fremantle.Three changes from last week’s 22 that were well beaten by Geelong were confirmed on Friday. Gray and Westhoff come into the side, along with half-back Brad Symes.Daniel Motlop (broken collarbone), Matt Thomas (suspended) and Nathan Krakouer (omitted) are out. Krakouer will not play his first game in the SANFL on Saturday. The Power will keep him in case he is required as an emergency on Sunday. Gray is a small forward and has been described as natural footballer. He was likened to Gary Ablett Jnr by The Advertiser during the week. He comes from Victorian U18 club Oakleigh Chargers and was taken with selection No. 55 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft.Westhoff is from Central District in the SANFL and is a mobile key forward who at 199cm is the height of a ruckman. At 20, had played a full league season for the Bulldogs last year before being picked by the Power with selection No. 71. He’s in goalkicking form in the SANFL.Top draft pick Travis Boak and young full-back Alipate Carlile were included in the 25-man squad but made emergencies with Krakouer on Friday.The Power’s 22 to face Hawthorn on Sunday from 12.40pm at AAMI Stadium is...B: Jacob Surjan, Darryl Wakelin, Michael Pettigrew HB: Brad Symes, Toby Thurstans, Nathan Lonie C: Dom Cassisi, Shaun Burgoyne, Kane Cornes HF:Danyle Pearce, Damon White, Steven Salopek F: David Rodan, Warren Tredrea, Brett Ebert Foll: Brendon Lade, Chad Cornes, Peter Burgoyne Interchange: Greg Bentley, Fabian Deluca, Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff
