southerncross
20-04-2007, 05:26 AM
Pups clear to play (http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/dogs-varied-debuts/2007/04/19/1176697004293.html)
IT HAS taken a third season on the list and three operations to repair a fracture to his left foot, but highly rated Western Bulldogs youngster Tom Williams will finally make his AFL debut against Richmond tonight at the MCG.
Williams, 20, taken with the No. 6 selection in the 2004 national draft, was a prize pick-up for the Bulldogs, who have been just as frustrated by the fracture to the navicular bone in his left foot, the subject of surgery as late as last Christmas.
He is one of two debutants for the Dogs, exciting youngster Jarrod Harbrow also earning his first game after having been promoted from the rookie list following Chris Grant's long-term groin injury.
The skilful left-footer impressed for the Bulldogs during their NAB Cup campaign. The pair come into the side for Sam Power (hamstring) and ruckman Peter Street.
And in another selection highlight, St Kilda co-captain Luke Ball has been named against Essendon, along with veteran ruckman Matthew Clarke, despite Saints' coach Ross Lyon earlier this week saying the courageous onballer was an unlikely starter.
Ball received severe concussion after the Saints' first-round win over Melbourne and has missed the past two games amid fears for his health if he were to receive another heavy knock.
The Bulldogs' opponent tonight, Richmond, has also selected two newcomers, 23-year-old defender Jake King, promoted from the rookie list on the eve of the season, and teenage midfielder Shane Edwards, the Tigers' second pick in last year's national draft.
The new faces follow Collingwood's gambit last week of picking three-first gamers, and continues the early-season trend of clubs prepared to back their young talent.
The quartet on show at the MCG tonight takes the number of players blooded so far in 2007 to 23, a figure that could climb higher still should Melbourne's Ricky Petterd, Fremantle's Robert Warnock and Carlton pair Joe Anderson and Adam Hartlett remain in squads for Sunday games to be pruned today.
Williams was beaming yesterday after his selection was announced, and said he was confident his prolonged injury problems were behind him. "My surgeon said it's not going to break. I've got half a hardware store in there now," he laughed.
Harbrow said Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade had caught him by surprise when he was told of his selection. "I was actually up in the players' meeting room having a sleep," Harbrow said.
"He played a joke on me and said that I had got in trouble with another player. I was freaking out, thinking, 'What have I done?' but then he put his hand out and said: 'Well done, mate.' "
ade said after such a long wait, the club was appropriately cautious with Williams. "The surgeon said he was ready in February, but we wanted to give him a proper pre-season," Eade said. "He ended up playing a few practice matches at Werribee and he has played very well there in the last couple of weeks."
Eade said confidence was likely to be the main obstacle, but he hoped Williams could overcome any nerves and fulfil his potential. "He is not going to play a full game, but hopefully he can grab his opportunity and stay in the team."
IT HAS taken a third season on the list and three operations to repair a fracture to his left foot, but highly rated Western Bulldogs youngster Tom Williams will finally make his AFL debut against Richmond tonight at the MCG.
Williams, 20, taken with the No. 6 selection in the 2004 national draft, was a prize pick-up for the Bulldogs, who have been just as frustrated by the fracture to the navicular bone in his left foot, the subject of surgery as late as last Christmas.
He is one of two debutants for the Dogs, exciting youngster Jarrod Harbrow also earning his first game after having been promoted from the rookie list following Chris Grant's long-term groin injury.
The skilful left-footer impressed for the Bulldogs during their NAB Cup campaign. The pair come into the side for Sam Power (hamstring) and ruckman Peter Street.
And in another selection highlight, St Kilda co-captain Luke Ball has been named against Essendon, along with veteran ruckman Matthew Clarke, despite Saints' coach Ross Lyon earlier this week saying the courageous onballer was an unlikely starter.
Ball received severe concussion after the Saints' first-round win over Melbourne and has missed the past two games amid fears for his health if he were to receive another heavy knock.
The Bulldogs' opponent tonight, Richmond, has also selected two newcomers, 23-year-old defender Jake King, promoted from the rookie list on the eve of the season, and teenage midfielder Shane Edwards, the Tigers' second pick in last year's national draft.
The new faces follow Collingwood's gambit last week of picking three-first gamers, and continues the early-season trend of clubs prepared to back their young talent.
The quartet on show at the MCG tonight takes the number of players blooded so far in 2007 to 23, a figure that could climb higher still should Melbourne's Ricky Petterd, Fremantle's Robert Warnock and Carlton pair Joe Anderson and Adam Hartlett remain in squads for Sunday games to be pruned today.
Williams was beaming yesterday after his selection was announced, and said he was confident his prolonged injury problems were behind him. "My surgeon said it's not going to break. I've got half a hardware store in there now," he laughed.
Harbrow said Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade had caught him by surprise when he was told of his selection. "I was actually up in the players' meeting room having a sleep," Harbrow said.
"He played a joke on me and said that I had got in trouble with another player. I was freaking out, thinking, 'What have I done?' but then he put his hand out and said: 'Well done, mate.' "
ade said after such a long wait, the club was appropriately cautious with Williams. "The surgeon said he was ready in February, but we wanted to give him a proper pre-season," Eade said. "He ended up playing a few practice matches at Werribee and he has played very well there in the last couple of weeks."
Eade said confidence was likely to be the main obstacle, but he hoped Williams could overcome any nerves and fulfil his potential. "He is not going to play a full game, but hopefully he can grab his opportunity and stay in the team."