New McDonald’s SA Under-18 coach Tony Bamford has finalised the 28-player squad to face the Sandgropers, with 10 players named on the extended interchange bench.
This will be trimmed to 23 before the bounce after the side has its training session on Thursday night.
Inside ball-winners and newly-named leadership group members Luke Valente, Jackson Hately and Tom Lewis have all been named to start in the centre square, with star running machine Izak Rankine to use his speed on the wing.
In attack, twin towers Jack Lukosius and Hugo Munn will bring their Macca’s League experience to the table with Hayden Sampson – son of Crows premiership player Clay Sampson – displaying his versatility after spending most of the year in defence with the Panthers.
Mihail Lochowiak and Martin Frederick will provide plenty of dash from defence while Riley Grundy, the younger brother of Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy, will continue his development as a key backman.
Sturt’s James Braidwood will get the first crack at leading the ruck after his steep learning curve while Bamford also praised Seb Schreiber and Jake Tarca for forcing their way into the mix from unlikely lead ins.
McDONALD’S SA U18 TEAM – GAME 1
F: (2) Hayden Sampson, (42) Jack Lukosius, (18) Oscar Chapman
HF: (13) Connor Rozee, (47) Hugo Munn, (9) Jake Tarca
C: (14) Izak Rankine, (16) Tom Lewis, (22) Jacob Kennerley
HB: (31) Mihail Lochowiak, (37) Riley Grundy, (23) Aaron Nietschke
B: (10) Martin Frederick, (33) Tyler Martin, (27) Jez McLennan
R: (40) James Braidwood, (34) Jackson Hately, (32) Luke Valente
INT: (41) Angus Rana, (12) Tobin Cox, (25) Tom Sparrow, (43) Will Gould, (28) Seb Schreiber, (3) Boyd Woodcock, (15) Robert Irra, (30) Ben Jarvis, (35) Jacob Collins, (29) Kai Pudney.