WESTERN Bulldogs midfield superstar Marcus Bontempelli will suit up for the first time this year in Thursday night’s JLT Community Series clash with the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium.
It will be the 2016 best and fairest’s first hit-out since last year’s premiership win, while it also looms as Lions midfielder Dayne Beams’ debut in his new role as his club’s captain.
Beams, named as Tom Rockliff’s successor on Tuesday, will lead a largely unchanged Lions outfit in his first run for the year.
While the Dogs have called up experienced heads Matthew Boyd, Matthew Suckling, Easton Wood, Dale Morris and Liam Picken, the Lions have opted for minimal changes to their side that was beaten by Gold Coast on the first weekend of the series.
Tom Bell, Tom Cutler, Eric Hipwood and rookie Matthew Hammelmann have been named in a line-up that again won’t feature Allen Christensen, Marco Paparone and Josh Schache, as well as draftees Jarrod Berry and Alex Witherden.
Meanwhile, the Dogs have named 14 players for their first hit-outs for the year, including 2016 draftees Tim English, Patrick Lipinski and Lewis Young, and new rookie Nathan Mullenger-McHugh.
Captain Bob Murphy, Luke Dahlhaus, Lachie Hunter, Tom Campbell and Tom Liberatore have been left out of the side, along with injured ruckman Jordan Roughead.
THURSDAY, MARCH 2
Western Bulldogs v Brisbane Lions, Etihad Stadium, 7.40pm AEDT
WESTERN BULLDOGS
1. Matthew Suckling, 4. Marcus Bontempelli, 5. Matthew Boyd, 8. Stewart Crameri, 9. Jake Stringer, 10. Easton Wood, 11. Jackson Macrae, 12. Zaine Cordy, 13. Travis Cloke, 14. Clay Smith, 16. Toby McLean, 17. Tom Boyd, 19. Lukas Webb, 20. Josh Dunkley, 22. Mitch Honeychurch, 25. Marcus Adams, 26. Declan Hamilton, 27. Patrick Lipinski, 31. Bailey Dale, 32. Kieran Collins, 33. Lewis Young, 34. Bailey Williams, 36. Brad Lynch, 37. Roarke Smith, 38. Dale Morris, 40. Nathan Mullenger-McHugh, 42. Liam Picken, 44. Tim English, 46. Lin Jong
Notable absentees: Bob Murphy, Luke Dahlhaus, Lachie Hunter, Tom Campbell, Tom Liberatore
BRISBANE LIONS
1. Ben Keays, 4. Ryan Bastinac, 5. Mitchell Robinson, 6. Hugh McCluggage, 7. Tom Bell, 8. Rohan Bewick, 9. Dayne Beams, 10. Daniel Rich, 12. Stefan Martin, 14. Josh Walker, 15. Dayne Zorko, 16. Jared Jansen, 17. Claye Beams, 18. Nicholas Robertson, 26. Tom Cutler, 27. Darcy Gardiner, 28. Lewis Taylor, 30. Eric Hipwood, 31. Harris Andrews, 32. Sam Mayes, 33. Michael Close, 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: Jarrod Berry, Allen Christensen, Daniel McStay, Marco Paparone, Josh Schache, Alex Witherden
