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This Round 1 clash sees three Victorian clubs looking to make their mark in 2013. All have something to prove, making tomorrow night’s round robin at Etihad Stadium to be an exciting night of football.
QUICK CAP:
North Melbourne will look to once again make finals and perhaps even go further, in an effort to back up an excellent season that saw the club participate in its first finals campaign since 2008.
Richmond are set to demonstrate their ability this year, hoping to lift the curse that sees them finish just shy of finals year after year.
Rounding out the three, Melbourne- after having a tumultuous week in front of the AFL board and the press, will seek to prove to the footballing world that they do not deserve the brand of ‘tankers’, and will instead envisage a successful 2013.
NORTH MELBOURNE:
Having re-signed coach Brad Scott and star midfielder Daniel Wells as recently as yesterday, the Kangaroos are looking to go one step further in 2013- as last year’s finals appearance was their first in four years.
Of concern for North, is the absence of midfielder Leigh Adams who will not be playing due to two shoulder operations endured during the off-season.
Look out for new recruits Ben Jacobs (Port Adelaide), Daniel Currie (Sydney, SANFL) and Jordan Gysberts (Melbourne) who have all been named in the squad.
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Squad: 1. Daniel Currie, 2. Brad McKenzie, 3. Ryan Bastinac, 4. Liam Anthony, 5. Ben Jacobs, 6. Lachlan Hansen, 7. Jack Ziebell, 8. Daniel Wells, 9. Andrew Swallow, 10. Ben Cunnington, 11. Michael Firrito, 12. Lindsay Thomas, 14. Jordan Gysberts, 15. Luke Delaney, 16. Scott Thompson, 17. Nathan Grima, 18. Shaun Atley, 19. Sam Wright, 20. Drew Petrie, 22. Todd Goldstein, 23. Kieran Harper, 24. Levi Greenwood, 25. Robbie Tarrant, 28. Will Sierakowski, 29. Brent Harvey, 30. Tom Curran, 31. Cameron Delaney, 34. Jamie Macmillan, 35. Aaron Black, 38. Majak Daw, 41. Aaron Mullett, 42. Scott McMahon, 43. Sam Gibson, 46. Ben Speight
RICHMOND:
Major focal point for the Tigers will be the appearance of former North Melbourne player Aaron Edwards, who will look to perform against his old side..
Former demon Ricky Petterd will also be playing his first match against his former club in Melbourne.
Be on the lookout for other new recruits including Chris Knights (Adelaide) and Orren Stephenson (Geelong), who will be playing their first match for Richmond in 2013.
Richmond will field a near-full strength squad, with only injuries to defender Dylan Grimes (hamstring), midfielder Nathan Foley (Achilles) and former Bomber Sam Lonergan (ankle) decreasing their fire power.
However, new captain Trent Cotchin and star players Brett Dleedio, Jack Riewoldt, Ivan Maric, Ty Vickery and Alex Rance will feature heavily in this fixture.
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Squad: 1. Chris Newman, 3. Brett Deledio, 4. Dustin Martin, 5. Brandon Ellis, 6. Shaun Grigg, 7. Matt Dea, 8. Jack Riewoldt, 9. Trent Cotchin, 10. Shane Edwards, 11. Jake Batchelor, 12. David Astbury, 13. Ricky Petterd, 14. Bachar Houli, 15. Chris Knights, 16. Luke McGuane, 18. Alex Rance, 20. Ivan Maric, 21. Shane Tuck, 23. Daniel Jackson, 24. Ben Griffiths, 26. Robin Nahas, 27. Aaron Edwards, 29. Ty Vickery, 30. Reece Conca, 31. Nick Vlastuin, 35. Matt White, 36. Matt McDonough, 37. Orren Stephenson, 38. Steven Morris, 39. Tom Derickx, 43. Todd Elton, 44. Matthew Arnot, 45. Brett O’Hanlon, 49. Steven Verrier
MELBOURNE:
After being labeled a ‘tanking’ side coach Mark Neeld and his Demons will look to reinvent themselves in 2013 in order to bounce back from the heavy sanctions handed down to them by the AFL.
Watch out for new recruit and former Magpie Chris Dawes, as we see just what sort of impact he will have in the Demon’s forward line.
Melbourne also has ten other new recuits, including Shannon Byrnes, Tom Gillies, Jesse Hogan, Matt Jones, Dean Kent, Cameron Pedersen, David Rodan, Dean Terlich, Jimmy Toumpas and Jack Viney, lining up in the red and blue for the first time.
They will be missing Mitch Clark and Jack Trengove- both are in doubt for Round 1 because of foot injuries.
Ruckman Max Gawn and midfielder Rohan Bail will also be missing due to injury concerns.
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Squad: 1. Jesse Hogan, 2. Nathan Jones, 4. Jack Watts, 5. Jimmy Toumpas, 6. Chris Dawes, 7. Jack Viney, 8. James Frawley, 10. Shannon Byrnes, 12. Colin Sylvia, 13. Jordie McKenzie, 14. Lynden Dunn, 15. David Rodan, 17. Sam Blease, 19. James Strauss, 20. Colin Garland, 21. Cameron Pedersen, 22. James Magner, 25. Tom McDonald, 26. Daniel Nicholson, 27. Tom Gillies, 28. Joel Macdonald, 30. James Sellar, 31. Jack Grimes, 32. Michael Evans, 34. Dean Kent, 36 Aaron Davey, 38. Jeremy Howe, 39. Neville Jetta, 40. Mark Jamar, 42. Jake Spencer, 45. Matt Jones, 46. Dean Terlich, 47. Tom Couch, 48. Jack Fitzpatrick
First siren sounds @ 6.45pm tomorrow night at Etihad Stadium, between Melbourne and North Melbourne. Followed by Melbourne vs. Richmond @ 7.50pm and North Melbourne vs. Richmond @ 8.55pm.
Maddi Vantarakis 