- Ex-Melbourne skipper misses out
- Nick Riewoldt named, but no room for No.1 pick
- Swans captain Jarrad McVeigh not named
ESSENDON has rolled the selection dice ahead of Saturday's season opener against the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium.
The Bombers have loaded up with big names including skipper Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell, Jake Carlisle, Cale Hooker, Michael Hibberd and Dustin Fletcher, who were among 13 players who didn't play in the NAB Challenge while serving provisional suspensions ahead of the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal findings being handed down.
It is a strong side on paper for the Bombers, but the question mark on Saturday will be match fitness.
The Swans named Kurt Tippett (knee) and Kieren Jack (abdomen) despite fitness concerns and have included exciting midfielder Isaac Heeney, a prized graduate of the club's academy, for his first game. Jarrad McVeigh (calf) has not been picked.
The MCG earlier on Saturday afternoon will mark the eagerly-awaited debut of Melbourne forward Jesse Hogan, who joined the club as a 17-year old in 2013, but who was restricted by a back injury to just one VFL game last year.
Also picked despite not playing a NAB Challenge game was solid midfielder Angus Brayshaw, the No. 3 selection overall at last year's NAB AFL Draft.
Former Magpie Heritier Lumumba will play his first game for the Demons (and his 200th overall) while former Carlton small forward Jeff Garlett will also debut for the red and the blue. Spring-heeled forward Jeremy Howe has pulled up well after a hamstring injury that curtailed his NAB Challenge campaign and will also play.
Last year's co-captain Jack Grimes was picked as an emergency.
Gold Coast has named skipper Gary Ablett for the clash against the Demons, in what will be his first meaningful game of any description since injuring his shoulder against Collingwood in round 16 last year.
Five players have been named for their first game for the club - Nick Malceski (Sydney Swans) and Mitch Hallahan (Hawthorn) and draftees Jarrod Garlett, Touk Miller and Adam Saad. A sign of how strong the Suns are becoming is that regular goalsneak Brandon Matera was only named as an emergency.
The 'million dollar man' of the Western Bulldogs Tom Boyd, will play his first game for the club on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium against West Coast which has named two first-gamers – 2014 draftees Tom Lamb and Jackson Nelson, who impressed for the club in three NAB Challenge matches.
At the Gabba on Saturday night, the Brisbane Lions host Collingwood and will unveil their three big-name signings from other clubs, headlined by midfielder Dayne Beams who will be up against his former side.
Allen Christensen (Geelong) and Mitch Robinson (Carlton) join him in the side. Also getting a game is exciting speedster Jaden McGrath, the 73rd selection from the national draft who dazzled the Lions throughout the NAB Challenge.
The Magpies have picked versatile midfielder Jordan De Goey, the No. 5 overall pick at last year's draft. Ben Reid will not make the trip to Brisbane as he regains match fitness after his pre-season soft-tissue concerns.
Jordan De Goey will make his debut for Collingwood. Picture: AFL Media
St Kilda upgraded Ahmed Saad, Adam Schneider and Jack Sinclair from the rookie list ahead of team selection for Sunday's Etihad Stadium clash with Greater Western Sydney, and all three were named in the 25-man squad.
Saad, who will definitely play, is a great story, with the Saints redrafting him last November after he finished serving a season-long ban for taking a banned substance. Skipper Nick Riewoldt, who didn't play through the summer following the death of his sister has been selected, as has running defender Shane Savage who missed the entire pre-season competition with a hamstring strain.
But there was no room for last year's No.1 draft pick with Paddy McCartin missing out on selection.
For the first time entering a new season there are no AFL first-gamers in the Giants line-up, but experienced pair Ryan Griffen (Western Bulldogs) and Joel Patfull (Brisbane Lions) step straight into the side.
As forecast by new coach Phil Walsh, Adelaide picked no AFL debutants for the game against North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, but former Melbourne and Hawthorn medium defender Kyle Cheney has been picked in the back pocket.
The Kangaroos will feature Jarrad Waite and Shaun Higgins for their first games for the club, having crossed from Carlton and the Western Bulldogs respectively.
Fremantle and Port Adelaide clash for the third time in six matches at Domain Stadium on Sunday evening. The Dockers have named tall inside midfielder Connor Blakely in their squad. Midfielder Michael Barlow (ankle) has also been named in the squad, which will be trimmed to 22 on Friday evening.
The Power will unveil prized big man Paddy Ryder in his first game for the club since crossing from Essendon at the end of last season. Ryder also didn't feature for the Power during the NAB Challenge while awaiting the outcome of the AFL tribunal. Angus Monfries, who missed for the same reason, has been named on the extended bench.
Reigning champs Hawthorn will unveil their 2014 premiership flag in the traditional Easter Monday clash against Geelong at the MCG. Free agent acquisition James Frawley steps straight into the backline while exciting midfielder Jed Anderson is on the expanded interchange bench, where he will be joined by former Giants No. 2 draft pick, onballer Jonathan O'Rourke.
Experienced defender Grant Birchall hasn't recovered from a knee injury to play in time, while fellow premiership players David Hale and Matt Spangher have also not been named.
The Cats have named former Lions and Melbourne forward Mitch Clark for his first game and their squad also includes pacy draftees Nakia Cockatoo and Cory Gregson. Darcy Lang, who played one game last year coming off the bench as a sub, is also in line for a game.
See list of all the AFL debutants below
MELBOURNE v GOLD COAST
MCG, Saturday April 4, 1.40pm AEDT
Melbourne
NEW: Jesse Hogan (Claremont), Aaron vandenBerg (Ainslie), Angus Brayshaw (Sandringham U18)
Gold Coast
NEW: Touk Miller (Calder U18), Jarrod Garlett (South Fremantle), Adam Saad (Coburg VFL)
SYDNEY SWANS v ESSENDON
ANZ Stadium, Saturday April 4, 4.35pm AEDT
Sydney Swans
NEW: Isaac Heeney (Swans Academy)
Essendon
Nil
BRISBANE LIONS v COLLINGWOOD
Gabba, Saturday April 4, 6.20pm AEST
Brisbane Lions
NEW: Jaden McGrath (Bendigo U18)
Collingwood
NEW: Jordan De Goey (Oakleigh U18)
WESTERN BULLDOGS v WEST COAST
Etihad Stadium, Saturday April 4, 7.20pm AEDT
Western Bulldogs
Nil
West Coast
NEW: Tom Lamb (Dandenong U18), Jackson Nelson (Geelong U18)
ST KILDA v GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Etihad Stadium, Sunday April 5, 1.10pm AEST
St Kilda
NEW: Jack Lonie (Dandenong U18), Jack Sinclair (Oakleigh U18)
Greater Western Sydney
Nil
ADELAIDE v NORTH MELBOURNE
Adelaide Oval, Sunday April 5, 2.50pm ACST
Adelaide
Nil
North Melbourne
Nil
FREMANTLE v PORT ADELAIDE
Domain Stadium, Sunday April 5, 4.40pm AWST
Fremantle
NEW: Connor Blakely (Swan Districts)
Port Adelaide
Nil
HAWTHORN v GEELONG
MCG, Monday April 6, 3.20pm AEST
Hawthorn
Nil
Geelong
NEW: Nakia Cockatoo (NT Thunder), Cory Gregson (Glenelg)
