2008 draft selection Jack Ziebell will make his much anticipated debut in Sunday's season opening clash against Melbourne at the MCG.
Ziebell was selected with North Melbourne's first round pick, no.9 in the draft and was recently instated as favourite for the NAB Rising Star award.
The 18 year old hailing from the Murray Bushrangers was one of the stars of the TAC Cup last year and excited the football world with a strong performance in the Kangaroos opening NAB Cup match with Carlton. He booted two goals and displayed all the attributes required of an AFL footballer.
Hamish McIntosh will return to ruck duties after an injury interrupted season 2008, and will have Daniel Wells and Adam Simpson at his feet to get the ball out of the centre, Ziebell will also be in the middle for his debut.
Dean Laidley has chosen a tall defence, Firrito, McMahon, Hansen and Gibson will all play in the back half, trying to put a stop to the effectiveness of Melbourne's forwards.
The Kangaroos forward line will also be hard to stop; David Hale will lead the attack from full-forward, while Drew Petrie should relish his role across half-forward as a strong marking tall; Matt Campbell, Lindsay Thomas and Captain Brent Harvey should all be dangerous around goals roving at the feet of the big men.
North Melbourne team
B | Daniel Pratt (30) | Michael Firrito (11) | Scott McMahon (42) |
HB | Leigh Harding (39) | Lachlan Hansen (6) | Josh Gibson (38) |
C | Brady Rawlings (3) | Adam Simpson (7) | Liam Anthony (44) |
HF | Ed Lower (2) | Drew Petrie (20) | Lindsay Thomas (12) |
F | Matt Campbell (33) | David Hale (31) | Brent Harvey (29) |
R | Hamish McIntosh (1) | Daniel Wells (8) | Jack Ziebell (19) |
INT | Josh Smith (18) | Sam Power (5) | Gavin Urquhart (14) |
Scott Thompson (16) | |||
EMERG: | Daniel Harris (4) | Benjamin Warren (35) | Nathan Grima (17) |
