Former Brisbane Lions triple AFL premiership player Mal Michael will play on ‘home soil’ for the first time as an Essendon player at Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara, on Saturday night.
The big Queenslander, lured out of retirement to join the Bombers in 2007 after he’d hung up the boots at the end of 2006, will wear the red and black of his new club against the Lions in the NAB Cup match from 7.40pm.
The season-opening clash will also mark the first appearance in Brisbane colors by ex-Melbourne Demons star Travis Johnstone, a former No.1 draft pick who was traded to the Lions last November and shapes as a key addition to Leigh Matthews’ side this year.
Michael and Johnstone were named in respective squads today.
At the other end of the scale, Sunshine Coaster Rhys Magin, a life-time Essendon supporter drafted as a rookie by the Bombers in December, will play his first game in the AFL.
The third Queenslander coming ‘home’ is former Cairns and Morningside speedster Courtenay Dempster who, after a horror 2007 campaign crucified by no less than five separate hamstring injuries, will be looking to deliver on the promise of his 2006 debut season.
The Lions are set to give two Queensland rookies their first taste of AFL football – ex-Southport ruckman Joel Tippett and Morningside defender Scott Clouston – while Haydn Kiel, another Southport product, will play his second NAB Cup game.
Luke Power and Nigel Lappin, re-appointed co-captains of the Lions this week in partnership with Jonathan Brown and Simon Black, will skipper the Brisbane side.
There is no curtain-raiser at Carrara on Saturday so gates will open at 5.30pm.
Ticketek either are available from Ticketek – visit www.ticketek.com.au or phone 132 849.
Squads with jumper numbers as announced today, and to be cut to 26 prior to game time, are:-
Brisbane Lions: 2. Albert Proud; 4. Travis Johnstone; 5. Scott Harding; 6. Luke Power; 7. Jed Adcock; 8. Tim Notting; 11. Justin Sherman; 14. Lachlan Henderson; 17. Jared Brennan; 18. Anthony Corrie; 22. Tom Collier; 23. Matthew Leuenberger; 24. Joel Patfull; 25. Wayde Mills; 28. Troy Selwood; 30. Robert Copeland; 31. James Polkinghorne; 32. Cheynee Stiller; 33. Rhan Hooper; 34. Bradd Dalziell; 37. Matt Austin; 38. Haydn Kiel; 39. Josh Drummond; 40. Phillip Smith; 41. Scott Clouston; 44. Nigel Lappin; 45. Daniel Dzufer; 47. Joel Tippett.
Essendon: 2 Ricky Dyson; 3 Scott Gumbleton; 6 Angus Monfries; 7 Leroy Jetta; 11 Damien Peverill; 14 Jason Johnson; 15 Courtenay Dempsey; 16 Tayte Pears; 17 Jay Nash; 19 David Hille; 20 Henry Slattery; 21 Courtney Johns; 22 Mal Michael; 23 David Myers; 26 Cale Hooker; 27 Jason Laycock; 30 Patrick Ryder; 33 Adam McPhee; 34 Rhys Magin; 36 Sam Lonergan; 37 Kyle Reimers; 38 Jarrod Atkinson; 39 Heath Hocking; 40 Dean Dick; 41 Danny Chartres; 42 Nathan Lovett Murray; 43 Bachar Houli.
