The Brisbane Lions have added five players with a combined total of 483 games of senior AFL experience to their line-up ahead of tomorrow’s ANZAC Day clash against St Kilda in Wellington, New Zealand.
Daniel Merrett returns after serving a two-match suspension, while reigning Club Champion Runner-Up Pearce Hanley and Josh Green have been passed fit to play having overcome their respective hamstring injuries.
Experienced campaigners Andrew Raines and James Polkinghorne have also been called-up for their first senior AFL match of 2014 on the back of standout performances in the NEAFL.
Polkinghorne booted a game-high four goals in the Lions Reserves’ surprise 23-point win over Aspley last Saturday, and Raines controlled the midfield with 32 possessions.
Making way for the returning quintet are Rohan Bewick, Mitch Golby, Jordan Lisle, Brent Moloney, and Jackson Paine – all who have been omitted.
The Lions will honour the ANZACs by wearing a one-off event guernsey for the Round 6 clash in Wellington.
The guernsey is based on the Club’s regular away design, but will have a Lions-centric camouflage look and feature for the first time ever in Club history the official Australian Army Rising Sun and 7th Brigade logos on its front.
The Southern Cross will also appear in gold beneath the lion’s back paw, while “Lest We Forget” is emblazoned on the back.
The guernsey has been designed to not only pay tribute to our fallen armed personnel, family and friends, but also celebrate the Club’s long-standing partnership with the Australian Armed Forces, particularly the 7th Brigade stationed at Enoggera Army Base in Brisbane.
All player issued and signed match guernseys will be auctioned off online at the Lions Shop, with ALL proceeds being donated to the 7th Brigade’s charity of choice – the ‘Young Diggers’.
Lions fans headed to Wellington for the match are encouraged to visit Dockside Queens Wharf Restaurant and Bar, after the game.
It is the Club’s official post-match venue – you might even spot some of the players there!
Visit www.docksidenz.com for more information.
The Lions will face St Kilda at Westpac Stadium at 7:45pm (local time).
The Lions’ final Round 6 team is as follows:
| B: | J. Adcock (7) | J. Patfull (24) | D. Merrett (21) |
| HB: | D. Gardiner (27) | S. Mayes (32) | J. Clarke (42) |
| C: | P. Hanley (11) | J. Redden (30) | R. Lester (35) |
| HF: | D. Zorko (15) | J. Brown (16) | M. Paparone (22) |
| F: | J. Green (6) | L. McGuane (1) | J. Polkinghorne (31) |
| FOLL: | T. West (13) | J. Aish (4) | N. Robertson (18) |
| INT: | T. Cutler (26) | L. Taylor (28) | A. Raines (29) |
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| T. Rockliff (38) |
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| EMER: | B. Moloney (3) | R. Bewick (8) | M. Golby (41) |
IN: Josh Green, Pearce Hanley, Daniel Merrett, James Polkinghorne, Andrew Raines
OUT: Rohan Bewick, Mitch Golby Jordan Lisle, Jackson Paine, Brent Moloney
