New faces on the field
The Bombers will have a number of new faces in their line up throughout the pre-season competition with three players set to Don the sash for the first time against the Suns on Monday night. Zach Merrett, Kurt Aylett, Fraser Thurlow have been named to tackle the Gold Coast in their first match in the red and black.
New faces in the box
Mark Thompson has taken the reigns of the team for the 2014 season and has a range of new faces alongside him in the coach’s box. Neil Craig and Nathan Basset have joined the Bombers coaching line up with Craig set to play a crucial role alongside Thompson. Fresh from success as a senior coach in the SANFL Basset takes charge of the forward group with Matthew Egan looking after the defensive group.
Carlisle down forward
With the loss of Stewart Crameri and Scott Gumbleton during the off-season big man Jake Carlisle is set to form a vital cog in the Bombers forward line alongside Joe Daniher. Carlisle had a breakout season in 2013 playing in defence but is set to make the switch forward as the team’s main target. Despite having only kicked 13 goals from his first 49 games the 22-year-old played most of his junior career as a forward.
Hurley down back
Coach Mark Thompson has already declared Michael Hurley will play as a key defender during the 2014 season after playing at both ends of the ground in the last few seasons. Hurley has stated he prefers to play in defence and it will be interesting to see how the 193cm big man fares down back.
Merrett brothers take to the field
First round draft selection Zach Merrett is set to live out his football dream to play at the highest level alongside his brother Jackson. Taken with selection 26 in the national draft the younger Merrett is set to impress with his poise around the football and lethal skills by foot.
Final Teams
GOLD COAST
Out: 20. Henry Schade, 31. Jackson Allen
Substitutes: 12. Sam Day, 22. Tom Nicholls
ESSENDON
Out: 33. Dylan van Unen, 36. Lauchlan Dalgleish, 46. Orazio Fantasia
Substitutes: 10. Nick O'Brien, 43. Kurt Aylett
GOLD COAST: final team
1. Jaeger O’Meara, 3. Timmy Sumner, 4. Jack Martin, 5. Jarrod Harbrow, 9. Gary Ablett (c), 12. Sam Day, 13. Andrew Boston, 14. Matthew Warnock, 15. Daniel Gorringe, 17. Steven May, 18. Trent McKenzie, 19. Tom Lynch, , 21. Jeremy Taylor, 22. Tom Nicholls, 23. Charlie Dixon, 24. David Swallow, 25. Danny Stanley, 26. Matthew Shaw, 27. Clay Cameron, 32. Brandon Matera, 33. Aaron Hall, 35. Michael Rischitelli, 36. Greg Broughton, 37. Jesse Lonergan, 40. Sean Lemmens, 46. Josh Hall
ESSENDON: final team
1. Michael Hibberd, 5. Brent Stanton, 6. Joe Daniher, 7. Leroy Jetta, 10. Nick O’Brien, 11. David Zaharakis, 12. Mark Baguley, 14. Jason Ashby, 18. Michael Hurley, 20. Jackson Merrett, 21. Dyson Heppell, 22. Jake Carlisle, 24. Alex Browne, 25. Ariel Steinberg, 26. Cale Hooker, 27. Zach Merrett, 28. Elliott Kavanagh, 29 Cory Dell’olio, 30. Patrick Ryder, 32. Travis Colyer, 34. Kyle Hardingham, 35. Martin Gleeson, 39. Heath Hocking, 40. Ben Howlett, 43. Kurt Aylett, 44. Fraser Thurlow,
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