
Last night the Pies and the Dons kicked things off in 2017 and tonight old rivals Hawthorn and Geelong will do battle at the University of Tasmania Stadium as the JLT Community Series continues.
The big news is that newly appointed Hawks captain Jarryd Roughead is set to make a triumphant return for the boys from Melbourne’s East.
Roughead’s return to the senior side will not only boost the talent across the board but the spirits of his teammates and coaching staff after overcoming a scary battle with cancer.
Other Hawks that look likely to debut are former Gold Coast Sun Jaeger O’Meara and free agent acquisition Ty Vickery who came across from the Tigers.
O’Meara comes into the match under a small injury cloud (knee) and is no certain starter while Vickery (David Hale 2:0) has been the talk of the town and along with the inclusion of Roughead give the Hawks two key marking targets inside forward 50 they so desperately lacked last season.
Notable absentees for the Hawks are former skipper Luke Hodge, Ex-Sydney Swans midfielder Tom Mitchell and Premiership forwards Luke Breust and Jack Gunston.
Mitchell trained on Wednesday and did not appear to be impaired, with former skipper Hodge in a similar situation according to AFL.com
All around fantasy superstar Patrick Dangerfield is named for the Cats while a few of his hard-nosed midfield buddies will sit out.
The Selwood brothers, Joel and Scott will miss as will the injury stricken yet so brilliantly talented half forward Daniel Menzel.
Hawthorn v Geelong
University of Tasmania Stadium (Launceston), Friday February 17 at 7.40pm AEDT
HAWTHORN
2. Jarryd Roughead, 4. Billy Hartung, 5. Ryan Burton, 6. Josh Gibson, 7. Ben McEvoy, 8. Taylor Duryea, 9. Shaun Burgoyne, 10. Jaeger O’Meara, 12. James Frawley, 14 Grant Birchall, 16. Isaac Smith, 20. Dallas Willsmore, 21. James Sicily, 23. Tim O’Brien, 24. Ben Stratton, 25. Ryan Schoenmakers, 26. Liam Shiels, 27. Tyrone Vickery, 28. Paul Puopolo, 29. Will Langford, 32. Jack Fitzpatrick, 33. Cyril Rioli, 34. Kurt Heatherley, 36. Kieran Lovell, 37. Blake Hardwick, 40. Kade Stewart, 42. Teia Miles, 43. Marc Pittonet, 46. James Cousins
Notable absentees: Luke Hodge, Luke Breust, Brendan Whitecross, Tom Mitchell, Jack Gunston
GEELONG
1. Rhys Stanley, 2. Zach Tuohy, 3. Brandan Parfitt, 4. Andrew Mackie, 5. Nakia Cockatoo, 7. Harry Taylor, 9. Zac Smith, 11. Darcy Lang, 12. Wylie Buzza, 13. Tom Lonergan, 15. Matthew Hayball, 18. Josh Cowan, 20. Ryan Gardner, 22. Mitch Duncan, 23. Aaron Black, 24. Jed Bews, 25. Lachie Henderson, 26. Tom Hawkins, 27. Sam Menegola, 29. Cameron Guthrie, 31. Jordan Cunico, 32. Steven Motlop, 35. Patrick Dangerfield, 36. Tom Ruggles, 38. Jack Henry, 39. Zach Guthrie, 40. Jackson Thurlow, 44. Tom Stewart, 46. Mark Blicavs
Notable absentees: Joel Selwood, Daniel Menzel, Scott Selwood, Jake Kolodjashnij, Lincoln McCarthy
Fantasy Stars players to watch in tonight’s game are
Steven Motlop (Geelong) – Hot and cold in 2016 and coaching staff have demanded more in 2017
Tyrone Vickery (Hawthorn) – The man the Hawks hope can play the David Hale role from their Premiership years
Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn) – Who cares if he is rusty. Just blow the cobwebs out and get through cleanly Rough!
Brandin Parfitt (Geelong) – Draftee who looks a likely starter
Zach Tuohy (Geelong) – New recruit who’s shown he is capable at the highest level. Can he make Geelong his home?
Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn) – Bouncing back from serious knee injuries. Once again, just needs to get through cleanly.
Squads for the weekends games
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Greater Western Sydney v West Coast
Narrandera Sports Ground, 2.05pm AEDT
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
8. Callan Ward, 10. Devon Smith, 11. Will Setterfield, 12. Jonathon Patton, 13. Isaac Cumming, 14. Tim Taranto, 15. Matthew Kennedy, 16. Nathan Wilson, 18. Jeremy Cameron, 19. Nick Haynes, 20. Adam Tomlinson, 21. Matthew Buntine, 22. Josh Kelly, 25. Tendai Mzungu, 26. Dawson Simpson, 27. Harrison Himmelberg, 28. Zach Sproule, 29. Zac Williams, 30. Matthew Flynn, 31. Jeremy Finlayson, 33. Lachlan Tiziani, 35. Aidan Corr, 36. Harry Perryman, 37. Rory Lobb, 38. Daniel Lloyd, 39. Tim Mohr, 42. Jake Stein, 44. Tom Downie, 50. Sam Reid
Notable absentees: Phil Davis, Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene, Tom Scully, Dylan Shiel, Steve Johnson, Heath Shaw, Brett Deledio, Ryan Griffen, Shane Mumford
WEST COAST
4. Dom Sheed, 5. Brad Sheppard, 6. Elliot Yeo, 7. Chris Masten, 8. Jack Redden, 10. Tom Lamb, 12. Sharrod Wellingham, 15. Jamie Cripps, 16. Eric Mackenzie, 19. Nathan Vardy, 23. Lewis Jetta, 24. Luke Partington, 28. Tom Cole, 30. Jackson Nelson, 31. Will Schofield, 33. Josh Hill, 34. Mark Hutchings, 35. Josh Rotham, 36. Fraser McInnes, 37. Tom Barrass, 38. Kurt Mutimer, 39. Malcom Karpany, 40. Tom Gorter, 41. Jordan Snadden, 42. Tarir Bayok, 43. Matthew Allen, 45. Jake Waterman, 46. Paddy Brophy, 47. Francis Watson
Notable absentees: Sam Mitchell, Drew Petrie, Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey, Josh Kennedy, Mark LeCras, Jack Darling
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne
Whitten Oval, 4.40pm AEDT
WESTERN BULLDOGS
2. Robert Murphy, 5. Matthew Boyd, 6. Luke Dahlhaus, 7. Lachlan Hunter, 8. Stewart Crameri, 9. Jake Stringer, 11. Jackson Macrae, 12. Zaine Cordy, 13. Travis Cloke, 15. Tom Campbell, 16. Toby Mclean, 17. Tom Boyd, 18. Fletcher Roberts, 19. Lukas Webb, 20. Josh Dunkley, 21. Tom Liberatore, 22. Mitch Honeychurch, 23. Jordan Roughead, 24. Shane Biggs, 25. Marcus Adams, 26. Declan Hamilton, 31. Bailey Dale, 32. Kieran Collins, 35. Caleb Daniel, 36. Brad Lynch, 38. Dale Morris, 39. Jason Johannisen, 44. Tim English, 46. Lin Jong
Notable absentees: Mitch Wallis, Marcus Bontempelli, Easton Wood, Clay Smith, Liam Picken, Matthew Suckling
MELBOURNE
1. Jesse Hogan, 2. Nathan Jones, 3. Christian Salem, 5. Christian Petracca, 6. Jordan Lewis, 7. Jack Viney, 9. Jack Trengove, 10. Angus Brayshaw, 11. Max Gawn, 13. Clayton Oliver, 15. Billy Stretch, 18. Jake Melksham, 20. Colin Garland, 22. Aaron vandenBerg, 23. Bernie Vince, 24. Jay Kennedy-Harris, 25. Tom McDonald, 26. Sam Weideman, 28. Oscar McDonald, 29. Jayden Hunt, 30. Alex Neal-Bullen, 32. Tomas Bugg, 33. Jake Spencer, 36. Jeff Garlett, 37. Dion Johnstone, 42. Josh Wagner, 43. James Harmes, 44. Joel Smith
Notable absentees: Michael Hibberd, Dean Kent, Sam Frost, Neville Jetta
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Sydney v North Melbourne
Coffs International Stadium, 2.05pm AEDT
SYDNEY
4. Daniel Hannebery, 5. Isaac Heeney, 6. Jordan Foote, 7. Harry Cunningham, 8. Kurt Tippett, 10. Zak Jones, 12. Josh Kennedy, 13. Oliver Florent, 14. Callum Mills, 17. Darcy Cameron, 19. Shaun Edwards, 20. Sam Reid, 21. Jack Maibaum, 25. Ben Ronke, 26. Luke Parker, 27. Daniel Robinson, 28. Nic Newman, 29. George Hewett, 30. Tyrone Leonardis, 31. Harrison Marsh, 32. Michael Talia, 33. Brandon Jack, 38. Colin O’Riordan, 40. Nick Smith, 42. Robbie Fox, 43. Lewis Melican, 44. Jake Lloyd, 45. Sam Fisher, 46. Sam Murray
Notable absentees: Jarrad McVeigh, Kieren Jack, Lance Franklin, Dane Rampe, Heath Grundy, Aliir Aliir
NORTH MELBOURNE
2. Marley Williams, 4. Shaun Higgins, 6. Lachlan Hansen, 7. Jack Ziebell, 8. Nathan Hrovat, 9. Andrew Swallow, 10. Ben Cunnington, 11. Luke McDonald, 12. Lindsay Thomas, 13. Ryan Clarke, 14. Trent Dumont, 18. Shaun Atley, 23. Ben McKay, 24. Sam Durdin, 28. Kayne Turner, 30. Jarrad Waite, 31. Braydon Preuss, 32. Mason Wood, 33. Ed Vickers-Willis, 34. Jamie Macmillan, 35. Declan Watson, 37. Will Fordham, 39. Mitch Hibberd, 40. Nick Larkey, 41. Corey Wagner, 42. Declan Mountford, 43. Sam Gibson, 44. Cameron Zurhaar, 46. Matthew Taylor
Notable absentees: Scott Thompson, Sam Wright, Todd Goldstein, Robbie Tarrant, Majak Daw, Ben Brown
Gold Coast v Brisbane Lions
Broad Beach Sports Club, 3.40pm AEST
GOLD COAST
1. Pearce Hanley, 2. Jarrad Grant, 3. Matt Rosa, 4. Jack Martin, 7. Jesse Lonergan, 8. Brayden Fiorini, 10. Kade Kolodjashnij, 11. Touk Miller, 12. Sam Day, 13. Callum Ah Chee, 15. Dan Currie, 16. Rory Thompson, 17. Steven May, 19. Tom Lynch, 20 . Michael Barlow, 21. Jack Leslie, 23. Sean Lemmens, 24. David Swallow, 26. Matthew Shaw, 27. Ben Ainsworth, 28. Jarrod Witts, 29. Jack Bowes, 32. Brandon Matera, 33. Aaron Hall, 36. Josh Schoenfeld, 38. Jesse Joyce, 41. Will Brodie, 42. Adam Saad, 44. Darcy Macpherson
Notable absentees: Gary Ablett, Jarryd Lyons, Jarrod Harbrow, Trent McKenzie, Jack Scrimshaw, Peter Wright
BRISBANE LIONS
1. Ben Keays, 4. Ryan Bastinac, 5. Mitch Robinson, 6. Hugh McCluggage, 8. Rohan Bewick, 10. Daniel Rich, 12. Stefan Martin, 14. Josh Walker, 15. Dayne Zorko, 16. Jarrad Jansen, 17. Claye Beams, 18. Nicholas Robertson, 23. Josh Schache, 24. Liam Dawson, 26. Tom Cutler, 27. Darcy Gardiner, 28. Lewis Taylor, 31. Harris Andrews, 32. Sam Mayes, 33. Michael Close, 34. Jonathan Freeman, 35. Ryan Lester, 36. Rhys Mathieson, 37. Jacob Allison, 38. Tom Rockliff, 40. Matthew Hammelmann, 43. Jake Barrett, 44. Archie Smith, 45. Jack Frost
Notable absentees: Tom Bell, Dayne Beams, Jarrod Berry, Allen Christensen, Marco Paparone, Alex Witherden, Cedric Cox