AFL teams: Round 1 selections for every match

Squads have been trimmed for the three Sunday games. A remarkbale comeback is confirmed plus some surprising selection calls. Must-read for all KFC SuperCoach players!

Richmond fans will get their first proper look at Marlion Pickett since his Grand Final heroics on debut. Picture: AAP

A stack of young guns will make their debuts in front of empty stadiums in the opening round of 2020.

Arguably the most long-awaited is determined Bulldog Ben Cavarra, 24, who finally gets his chance after being left untouch in several drafts.

However, the debut bringing the most anticipation is prized Saints tall forward Max King, wearing the No.12 he inherited from St Kilda superstar Nick Riewoldt.

SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE ROUND 1 SELECTIONS INCLUDING FINAL SUNDAY TEAMS

Then there’s the return stories.

Blue Sam Docherty will play his first AFL game since 2017 following back-to-back knee reconstructions tonight, while Saints defender Dylan Roberton has remarkably overcome his terrifying heart condition and will feature in their Round 1 lineup.

Watch every match of every round of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE & On-Demand with KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Richmond fans will get their first proper look at Marlion Pickett since his Grand Final heroics on debut. Picture: AAP

Birchall to make Lions debut

Greg Davis

Four-time premiership Hawk Grant Birchall will play his first senior match for Brisbane against his old club at the MCG this Sunday but he will not be joined by fellow mature-age recruits Callum Ah Chee and Cameron Ellis-Yolmen.

Ah Chee – who was traded to the Lions from the Gold Coast - has been battling a head cold and a nasal infection and has been left out of the 26-man squad named last night (THURS) after carving out a place for himself in Brisbane’s best 22 during the pre-season.

Lions officials stressed it was a head cold – and nothing more – and Ah Chee was on the mend.

Former Adelaide Crows midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen was dropped from the senior side ahead of the Marsh Community Series pre-season game against Carlton and has been unable to force his way back into the Brisbane team for their season-opener.

Birchall played 248 senior games with Hawthorn and the 32-year-old will play his 249th AFL match against the club where he won four flags before injuries decimated his last two seasons.

The Tasmanian headed to Brisbane as an unrestricted free agent during the trade period to reunite with former Hawks football boss and Lions senior coach Chris Fagan.

Birchall will line-up at halfback in a very settled Brisbane side that includes 19 players from the team that lost to GWS in last year’s finals series.

Only Luke Hodge (retired), Allen Christensen (coming back from injury) and Nick Robertson (delisted) are missing from the Lions line-up that went within a whisker of toppling the Giants at the Gabba in September.

The Lions had their main session of the week last night (THURS) and Brisbane’s match committee will meet again today (FRI) before culling the 26-man squad back to 22.

First-year players Deven Robertson and Keidean Coleman have been included on the extended interchange bench that also includes Brandon Starcevich and Connor Ballenden.

Meanwhile, Lions CEO Greg Swann said the club was taking precautions to ensure the health and wellbeing of their players and staff with the Lions to take a chartered flight to Melbourne while occupying their own floor of a hotel.

“The players have been briefed from our medical staff with a strong focus on their social distancing and hygiene protocols and have been limiting their access to the general public,” Swann said.

“Our players, both men’s and women’s collectively have voiced their desire to play.

“We are pleased, that at this difficult time, this AFL match will provide our members and fans the opportunity to enjoy the sense of excitement we share when we watch our great game and support our team.”

Heeney in, draftees miss out

Jon Ritson

The Swans will strive to ensure the only thing they bring back on the flight from Adelaide are the points as John Longmire’smen look to get their 2020 campaign off to a healthy start.

And as the Moore Park outfit head for South Australia today, every measure will be taken to minimise the risk of coronavirusinfection.

There will be no mingling with fellow travellers at Sydney or Adelaide airports and the flights will be Swans-personnel only.

“The airport and airline will provide some measures to in effect quarantine the players through the terminal and then on toa chartered flight with just the Swans crew and then there’ll be some distancing obviously on the plane,” Swans CEO Tom Harleysaid. “Land in Adelaide, do the same and run through very similar protocols once at the hotel in Adelaide.”

As for the round one match itself, the red and whites have named new boys Kaiden Brand, Lewis Taylor and Sam Gray, although draftees Dylan Stephens and Will Gould miss out. Isaac Heeney has won his fight for fitness and will be part of a forwardline that’s missing both Lance Franklin and Sam Reid.

Longmire is delighted with the way the new trio have settled in since joining the Swans and believes all three have addedsomething to the group.

“On and off the field they’re terrific fellas,” he said. “They’ve fitted in really well. “To name them in their first gamefor the Swans is a real credit to all three of them.”

Co-captain Dane Rampe said it had been ‘pretty crazy’ with the coronavirus situation but the players were now focused on thejob in hand.

“We’re ready and excited to play,” he said. “We’re absolutely hellbent on getting to Adelaide and getting the four points.”

Harley said the decision to kick off the campaign would hopefully bring some smiles in a tough time.

“If it (football) lifts social morale in what is clearly a challenging time that’s a good thing,” he said.

Crosstown rivals the Giants open their 2020 campaign at home to Geelong tomorrow with Tom Green, Isaac Cumming and Zac Langdonall earning starts.

“It’s a huge tick for a young kid coming in in his first year to be picked in round one. It’s really exciting for us as afooty club,” coach Leon Cameron said of Green.

“Isaac really put his hand up after some great pre-season form, he’s earned his spot at half-back.

“Zac has had a faultless pre-season. He did everything right and really deserves his spot in the team.”

Cameron revealed that Zac Williams was close but will be given a run out in NEAFL before coming into the mix for round two.

RICHMOND v CARLTON

Thursday 19 March, 7.25pm at the MCG

TIGERS

B Nathan Broad, Dylan Grimes, David Astbury

HB Liam Baker, Nick Vlastuin, Jayden Short

C Josh Caddy, Dion Prestia, Jack Graham

HF Daniel Rioli, Shane Edwards, Jason Castagna

F Tom Lynch, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt

Foll Ivan Soldo, Trent Cotchin, Kane Lambert

I/C Marlion Pickett, Shai Bolton, Toby Nankervis, Sydney Stack

Emg: Jack Ross, Kamdyn McIntosh, Callum Coleman-Jones, Ryan Garthwaite

BLUES

B Lachie Plowman Liam Jones Sam Docherty

HB Nic Newman Jacob Weitering Sam Petrevski-Seton

C Sam Walsh Ed Curnow Jack Newnes

HF Paddy Dow Mitch McGovern Jack Martin

F Michael Gibbons Levi Casboult Jack Silvagni

Foll Matthew Kreuzer Patrick Cripps Marc Murphy

I/C Kade Simpson Will Setterfield Zac Fisher David Cuningham

Emg: Marc Pittonet Tom Williamson Lochie O’Brien Sam Philp

KFC SUPERCOACH NOTES: SuperCoach may have broken if the Tigers didn’t name Marlion Pickett. He’s the most popular player in the game, currently sitting in 73 per cent of teams. That should be close to 100 per cent after he was picked on the bench for Round 1. Dustin Martin being named at full-forward raises eyebrows — if he’s playing out of the goalsquare does that certail his point-scoring capacity? Expect him to still get plenty of centre bounce action. For the Blues the big news is the return of Sam Docherty after two years out with knee injuries — he was the top-scoring KFC SuperCoach defender in 2017 (average 114.7 a game) and could be one of the bargains of the year. Potential cheapies Tom Williamson, Sam Philp and Tiger Callum Coleman-Jones were all named as emergencies. If you’re looking for an early Round 1 captain, Patrick Cripps has scored 126, 134 and 130 in his past three against the Tigers.

WESTERN BULLDOGS v COLLINGWOOD

Friday March 20, 7:50pm, Marvel Stadium

BULLDOGS

B: Keath, Cordy, Wood

HB: Crozier, Johannisen, Daniel

C: Smith, Bontempelli, Hunter

HF: Dale, Bruce, Suckling

F: Wallis, Naughton, Lloyd

FOLL: English, Dunkley, Macrae

I/C: Le.Young, Cavarra, Williams, Gardner

EMG: Schache, McLean, Richards, Sweet

NEW: Ben Cavarra

MAGPIES

B: Crisp, Roughead, Howe

HB: Maynard, Moore, Noble

C: Hoskin-Elliott, Pendlebury, Mayne

HF: Phillips, Mihocek, C.Brown

F: De Goey, Cox, Elliott

FOLL: Grundy, Adams, Sidebottom

I/C: Daicos, Thomas, T.Brown, Madgen

EMG: Cameron, Stephenson, Wills, Rantall

NEW: Tyler Brown

KFC SUPERCOACH NOTES: Two surprise debutants will please SuperCoaches, with mature-age recruit Ben Cavarra and father-son Pie Tyler Brown both priced at $123,900. Both should be locked into SuperCoach teams given the lack of rookies available. The glittering SuperCoach trio of Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae and Josh Dunkley should all go big in their season opener, and Brodie Grundy presents as the perfect VC/C option up against young Tim English.

ESSENDON v FREMANTLE

Saturday March 21, 1:45pm, Marvel Stadium

BOMBERS

B: Francis, Hurley, Zerk-Thatcher

HB: Saad, Ridley, Redman

C: Langford, McGrath, Zaharakis

HF: Fantasia, Laverde, Smith

F: Stringer, Townsend, McDonald-Tipungwuti

FOLL: Bellchambers, Merrett, Shiel

I/C: Parish, Snelling, Guelfi, Cutler

EMG: Gleeson, Ham, Phillips, McKenna

NEW: Jacob Townsend

DOCKERS

B: Ryan, Logue, Hughes

HB: Conca, Cox, Duman

C: Bewley, Fyfe, Aish

HF: Sturt, Taberner, Banfield

F: Colyer, Lobb, Walters

FOLL: Darcy, Tucker, Brayshaw

I/C: Cerra, Schultz, Crowden, McCarthy

EMG: Serong, Blakely, Watson, Matera

NEW: Sam Sturt

KFC SUPERCOACH NOTES: Sam Sturt didn’t set the world on fire during the pre-season scoring two paltry totals, but we may need him to occupy our forward bench. Andrew Brayshaw has been named on the ball, where he spent most of his time during the pre-season, while Zach Merrett averages 115 points against the Dockers. Nat Fyfe will be in plenty of teams and should fare well, although he is prone to the odd stinker first up.

ADELAIDE CROWS v SYDNEY SWANS

Saturday March 21, 4:35pm, Adelaide Oval

CROWS

B: Brown, Talia, Laird

HB: Milera, McAsey, Smith

C: Seedsman, M.Crouch, Walker

HF: Jones, Frampton, Lynch

F: Murphy, Fogarty, Stengle

FOLL: O’Brien, B.Crouch, Sloane

I/C: Gibbs, Kelly, Atkins, Davis

EMG: Poholke, Mackay, Himmelberg, Hamill

New: Fischer McAsey, Billy Frampton (Port Adelaide)

SWANS

B: Aliir, Rampe, O’Riordan

HB: Mills, McCartin, Dawson

C: Cunningham, Kennedy, Lloyd

HF: Hayward, Blakey, Gray

F: Papley, Heeney, Ronke

FOLL: Naismith, Parker, Rowbottom

I/C: Brand, Florent, McInerney, Taylor

EMG: Fox, Clarke, Hewett, Sinclair

NEW: Kaiden Brand (Hawthorn), Sam Gray (Port Adelaide), Lewis Taylor (Brisbane)

KFC SUPERCOACH NOTES: Youngster Fischer McAsey and former Power tall Billy Frampton could enter rookie calculations, but both are priced above $150k. Rory Laird is in nearly a quarter of teams, while some coaches have taken the punt on Sam Naismith as their R2. Fortunately for them, Sinclair hasn’t been named which should see an improved score. Jake Lloyd has been named on the wing but expect him to pick up cheap possessions at will in defence alongside Jordan Dawson. No Will Gould is a massive concern and those with the Swan in their side need to move him on.

GOLD COAST SUNS v PORT ADELAIDE

Saturday March 21, 7:40pm, Metricon Stadium

SUNS

B: Budarick, Graham, Lukosius

HB: Bowes, Collins, Fiorini

C: Ellis, Greenwood, Anderson

HF: MacPherson, Day, Ainsworth

F: Swallow, King, Holman

FOLL: Witts, Miller, Weller

I/C: Brodie, Joyce, Lemmens, Rowell

EMG: Burgess, Dawson, Schoenfeld, Wright

NEW: Connor Budarick, Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson Hugh Greenwood (Gold Coast), Brandon Ellis (Richmond),

POWER

B: Burton, Clurey, Bonner

HB: Hartlett, Jonas, Byrne-Jones

C: Duursma, Rockliff, Amon

HF: Powell-Pepper, Marshall, Rozee

F: Butters, Ebert, Gray

FOLL: Lycett, Houston, Boak

I/C: Motlop, McKenzie, Georgiades, Westhoff

EMG: Farrell, Mayes, Ladhams, Lienert

NEW: Mitch Georgiades

KFC SUPERCOACH NOTES: Gold Coast have delivered on the cheapie front, giving Matt Rowell, Connor Budarick and Noah Anderson the chance to make their AFL debut. Rowell and Budarick are SuperCoach locks in 2020. Dan Houston has been named in the midfield where he will play all of his footy this season, while recruit Hugh Greenwood has also been named in the guts. Mitch Georgiades will make his debut and could clean up against the lowly Suns.

GWS GIANTS v GEELONG CATS

Saturday March 21, 7:40pm, Giants Stadium

GIANTS

B: Corr, Taylor, Haynes

HB: Perryman, Davis, Cumming

C: Lloyd, Coniglio, Whitfield

HF: Langdon, Cameron, de Boer

F: Daniels, Finlayson, Himmelberg

FOLL: Jacobs, Kelly, Hopper

I/C: Shaw, Kennedy, Greene, Green

EMG: Hately, Reid, Mumford, Ash

NEW: Sam Jacobs (Adelaide), Tom Green

CATS

B: Taylor, Blicavs, Henry

HB: O’Connor, Stewart, Tuohy

C: Menegola, Dangerfield, Guthrie

HF: Dahlhaus, Miers, Atkins

F: Rohan, Hawkins, Ratugolea

FOLL: Fort, Selwood, Narkle

I/C: Ablett, Duncan, Guthrie, Clark

EMG: Simpson, Stanley, Jenkins, Parfitt

KFC SUPERCOACH NOTES: Interestingly, Darcy Fort is the Geelong’s number one ruck. At $264,800, is he a point-of-difference pick worth considering with Rhys Stanley out of the side? New Giant Sam Jacobs should clean up against Fort and Esava Ratugolea in the ruck, while 58 per cent of SuperCoaches will be hoping Lachie Whitfield does the same.

NORTH MELBOURNE v ST KILDA

Sunday March 22, 1:10pm, Marvel Stadium

KANGAROOS

B: Macmillan, Tarrant, McDonald

HB: Pittard, Walker, Atley

C: Dumont, Cunnington, Polec

HF: Thomas, Larkey, Higgins

F: Ziebell, Brown, Zurhaar

FOLL: Goldstein, Anderson, Simpkin

I/C: Daw, Hall, Taylor, Ahern

EMG: Bonar, Murphy, Garner

SAINTS

B: Geary, Wilkie, Howard

HB: Long, Clark, Roberton

C: Billings, Jones, Hill

HF: Lonie, King, Hannebery

F: Butler, Ryder, Membrey

FOLL: Marshall, Steele, Gresham

I/C: Kent, Ross, Dunstan, Paton

EMG: Sinclair, Coffield, Marsh

KFC SUPERCOACH NOTES: Dylan Roberton makes his remarkable return to football and lets hope he gets through unscathed. Forward cash cow Curtis Taylor is on the extended bench and not making the final 22 would leave SuperCoaches in disarray. Fellow rookie Jack Mahony wasn’t even included in the 26. Curtis Taylor made the Friday afternoon cut but Aiden Bonar missed out, while Jade Gresham has interestingly been named in the midfield. POD anyone?

HAWTHORN v BRISBANE LIONS

Sunday March 22, 3:20pm, MCG

HAWKS

B: Stratton, Frawley, McEvoy

HB: Sicily, Frost, Smith

C: Henderson, O’Meara, Scully

HF: Breust, Burgoyne, Morrison

F: O’Brien, Patton, Wingard

FOLL: Ceglar, Worpel, Mitchell

I/C: Puopolo, Shiels, Gunston, Hanrahan

EMG: Cousins, Nash, Hartley

NEW: Jon Patton (GWS), Sam Frost (Melbourne)

LIONS

B: Adams, Andrews, Gardiner

HB: Rich, Birchall, Answerth

C: Robinson, Lyons, McCluggage

HF: Bailey, Hipwood, Rayner

F: McInerney, McStay, Cameron

FOLL: Martin, Zorko, Neale

I/C: Berry, McCarthy, Witherden, Starcevich

EMG: Lester, Ballenden, Hinge

NEW: Grant Birchall (Hawthorn)

KFC SUPERCOACH NOTES: Tom Mitchell is the player to watch in this game. Can he return to his former greatness right away coming off a broken leg? Brandon Starcevich shapes as a popular cash cow in defence after making the final squad. But trade out Deven Robertson while you still can.

WEST COAST EAGLES v MELBOURNE

Sunday March 22, 6:20pm, Optus Stadium

EAGLES

B: Sheppard, Barrass, Hurn

HB: Jetta, McGovern, Duggan

C: Gaff, Yeo, Brander

HF: Redden, Darling, Sheed

F: Ryan, Kennedy, Cripps

FOLL: Naitanui, Kelly, Shuey

I/C: Hickey, Petruccelle, Nelson, Ah Chee

EMG: Schofield, Williams, Hutchings

NEW: Tim Kelly (Geelong)

DEMONS

B: Jetta, May, Lever

HB: O.McDonald, Harmes, Hibberd

C: Langdon, Oliver, Tomlinson

HF: Neal-Bullen, Fritsch, Viney

F: Spargo, T.McDonald, Brayshaw

FOLL: Gawn, Petracca, Melksham

I/C: Lockhart, Bedford, Brown, Pickett

EMG: Sparrow, Weideman, Hore

NEW: Toby Bedford, Kysaiah Pickett, Ed Langdon, Adam Tomlinson

KFC SUPERCOACH NOTES: The biggest SuperCoach duel here is Nic Naitanui vs Max Gawn, two of the most popular ruckman in the game. Christian Pecracca as a full-time midfieder will be another interesting proposition. Two Demon small forwards, Kysaiah Pickett and Toby Bedford will make their debut but are unlikely to score well away from home against the Eagles.