THE LIONS’ pride will be on show this Saturday night with the inclusion of four club debutants when they take on Collingwood at the Gabba.
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Bendigo youngster Jaden McGrath will join experienced AFL players Dayne Beams (Collingwood), Allen Christensen (Geelong) and Mitch Robinson (Carlton).
Chosen at No.73 in last year's AFL Draft, McGrath played in all three of the Lions’ NAB Challenge games.
Coach Justin Leppitsch heaped praise on the first-year player for his rapid adjustment to the training requirements of AFL football and the team’s style of play.
"He's jumped the queue very quickly and I didn't expect it and probably he didn't either.
"There's a pretty simple lesson in life, if you put in good performances, put your head over the ball, do what's asked, you get a go”, Leppitsch said.
Darcy Gardiner will miss. The defender injured his shoulder against the Gold Coast Suns a fortnight ago and only returned to training this week.
Position | Player | # | Player | # | Player | # |
Backs | Justin Clarke | 42 | Daniel Merrett | 21 | Ryan Lester | 32 |
Half Backs | Claye Beams | 17 | Marco Paparone | 22 | Daniel Rich | 10 |
Centreline | Rohan Bewick | 8 | Dayne Beams | 9 | Jed Adcock | 7 |
Half Forwards | Josh Green | 6 | Matthew Leuenberger | 23 | Lewis Taylor | 28 |
Forwards | Mitch Robinson | 5 | Daniel McStay | 25 | Jaden McGrath | 29 |
Followers | Stefan Martin | 12 | James Aish | 4 | Thomas Rockliff | 38 |
Interchange | Allen Christensen | 3 | Dayne Zorko | 15 | Jack Redden | 30 |
Sam Mayes | 32 |
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Emergencies | Luke McGuane | 1 | Harris Andrews | 31 | Mitchell Golby | 41 |