Two of the Sunshine Coasts’ young AFL hopes are reluctantly sitting out tonight’s big Victorian bushfire benefit between Essendon and the Western Bulldogs at the Dome in Melbourne.
Both Bombers signing Rhys Magin and Bulldogs recruit Sam Reid have been carrying preseason injuries.
Magin was injured late last year after his debut southern season.
But he declared prior to the final naming of the squad of 29, that he was keen to play in a emotionally-charged trial that could turn out to be just about the biggest game of the year apart from the grand final.
Certainly the match which aims to raise more than $1 million for the bushfire victims, will be the most poignant after being relocated from Darwin.
Already the $250,000 travel savings has been donated to helping the bushfire survivors start to get their lives back on track.
And some of the clubs’ big names like Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd, who would have been rested, are now keen starters.
Magin, 19, is from Pomona but his family hails from Victoria, was not named in the Bombers squad.
“I’d love to play in it – since it was rescheduled from Darwin to Melbourne for the bushfire appeal, it has become so much more important,” Magin said.
Magin said he was now back in full training having had to have some bone shaved from a troublesome hip that also required some clean up work on his cartilage.
His first-up omission may be a case of the Bombers’ easing Magin into the new season with his full recovery in mind.
“I’ve been told that they are looking to play me in the midfield, on the wing and a bit of half forward this year,” Magin said.
Reid, who played on the Coast at Caloundra, said he was not considered for this week’s trial after suffering a knee injury while kicking a football to a mate over the Christmas break.
“I didn’t have to have surgery and I should be right after resting it,” he said.
“I’m looking to play in an intra-club trial next week.”
Reid, an Australian Institute of Sport AFL Academy graduate who turns 20 in November, said he has been told the Bulldogs will look to use him in the midfield.
Both are aiming to try and play as many senior AFL games as possible this year.
§ Sunshine Coast products Josh Drummond and Daniel Dzufer were yesterday named in a 28-man Brisbane Lions squad for its opening NAB Cup match against St Kilda.
The squad will be trimmed to 24 before the clash at Gold Coast Stadium tomorrow.
Dzufer played one senior match for the Lions in 2007 against Port Adelaide but failed to receive a call-up to the top side last season.
Drummond has endure more that his fair share of injury in recent season and he hoped to use the pre season to get some match practice under his belt.
Last Modified on 11/03/2009 17:33