New Blood - youngster Ken Karpany gets his chance for West Adelaide

WEST Adelaide coach Mark Mickan has given Riverland teen Ken Karpany a chance to prove himself at league level after promoting him for Sunday’s clash against North Adelaide.

West Adelaide coach Mark Mickan ... still looking for first win of the season. Picture: Mark Brake

WEST Adelaide has given Riverland product Ken Karpany a chance to prove himself at league level after the teenager was promoted for Sunday’s clash against North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.

Karpany has been rewarded for impressive form in the reserves and the Bloods will use the 19-year-old as a small forward as coach Mark Mickan’s side hunts a first win of the season.

His rise to the club’s top side comes just four years after he was advised to return to the Riverland and work on the defensive aspects of his game.

“Kenny was playing with our under 15 side and he was given some tips to work on back in the Riverland,’’ Bloods football manager Andrew Marks said. “He went back there for two years and we kept seeing his name in the best players.

“We wanted to have another look at him and it was obvious he had taken the advice on board. He is an exciting talent and has been playing well in the reserves.’’

There is mystery hanging over Mickan’s line-up to front the vastly improved Roosters with injury concerns for several players, prompting the decision to bring Karpany into the side.

Still searching for their first win of the season, the Bloods face a tough assignment against a Roosters side coming off an emphatic victory at Glenelg on Monday.

“The players have been upbeat and feel that first win is just around the corner,’’ Marks said. “North has been playing well and we need to get the ball first.

“And we need to get more of it, the stats show the opposition has been getting more ball than us.’’

The Roosters could take a settled line-up into the battle, after adding Jay Shannon and Cohen Thiele to the 21 who belted the Tigers.

“Our injury list is as low as it has been for a while,’’ Roosters football manager Darryl Wintle said.

Sturt has been forced to make few changes this season and that is the situation again today for the confrontation against the Tigers at the Bay.

The Double Blues have not been beaten since their season opener and coach Marty Mattner has the side playing disciplined, unselfish football.

SANFL SUNDAY

Glenelg v Sturt

Gliderol Stadium, Glenelg, 2.10pm

Radio: live stream @sanfl.com.au

North Adelaide v West Adelaide

Prospect Oval, 2.10pm

TV: Channel 7