The Western Bulldogs will unleash a debutant on Sunday against Hawthorn, with 2022 draftee Charlie Clarke to play his first AFL game.
The Dogs on Thursday confirmed Clarke, a hard-working small forward with great goal sense, would become their third debutant this season after Ryley Sanders and Harvey Gallagher.
The Port Melbourne Colts product has kicked six goals in the four VFL wins this year, while he booted three majors in Saturday’s exhibition match against the AFL U18 Academy.
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“I’m very excited – I’ve been dreaming of this my whole life,” Clarke said.
“I love this club and love the people that are part of it. I’m just so excited to get my opportunity.
“Especially from where I’ve come from, 12 months ago I was probably a long way off. To be here now – I’m just very grateful.”
The Bulldogs expect to get gun forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and midfielder Tom Liberatore back for Sunday’s clash with Hawthorn having lost leading goalkicker Cody Weightman to an elbow injury.
Meanwhile, both St Kilda and Brisbane expect Rowan Marshall and Joe Daniher to play this weekend, despite both players missing training on Thursday due to illness.
Carlton will regain star midfielder Adam Cerra for its Friday night blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG.
Cerra has recovered from a hamstring strain and will take on a rejigged Collingwood midfield missing premiership duo Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell in front of an expected crowd of more than 90,000.
Carlton coach Michael Voss said Cerra, who suffered a hamstring strain in the lead up to Round 5 and has missed three matches, could have faced the Cats last weekend but had been held back after a recent history of hamstring issues.
“He’s come up quite well – could’ve been right on the edge last week, we were a bit more conservative, so he’s been able to train really well so he’ll be ready to go,” Voss said.
Injury-riddled forward David Cuningham, who has missed the last five weeks with a calf injury, is in the frame for selection against the Magpies after he trained fully at Ikon Park on Thursday.
Charlie’s due to kick a bag against Pies | 00:49
Voss said Mitch McGovern was “not ready” for the Friday night clash as he recovered from his own hamstring injury, but was “more likely” to return against Melbourne next Thursday.
Defensive reinforcements have arrived just in time for Adelaide, with a full new backline named for Thursday night’s Showdown LV.
The Crows will hand a debut to top draft pick Dan Curtin while Jordon Butts and Brodie Smith also return.
Coach Matthew Nicks has dropped two players to make way for them, with Will Hamill and James Borlase missing out, while Luke Pedlar loses his spot through injury.
Port Adelaide will be without Aliir Aliir (concussion) and Sam Powell-Pepper (ACL) as expected.
Crows blood Daniel Curtin in showdown | 00:56
Ryan Burton and Jed McEntee come into the side as replacements, with Power captain Connor Rozee holding his spot despite suffering a hamstring injury last week against St Kilda.
The rest of the teams for Round 8 will be announced on Thursday at 6:20pm AEST.
ROUND 8 TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)
ADELAIDE CROWS v PORT ADELAIDE
Thursday May 2, 7:30pm at Adelaide Oval
CROWS
B: D.Curtin, J.Butts, B.Smith
HB: J.Worrell, M.Keane, M.Michalanney
C: M.Hinge, J.Soligo, J.Dawson – C
HF: L.Sholl, T.Walker, J.Rachele
F: E.Himmelberg, D.Fogarty, I.Rankine
FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Laird, B.Keays
I/C: L.Nankervis, B.Cook, C.Jones, M.Crouch, N.McHenry
EMG: S.Berry, L.Gollant, L.Murphy
IN: D.Curtin, J.Butts, B.Smith
OUT: W.Hamill (Omitted), J.Borlase (Omitted), L.Pedlar (Injured)
POWER
B: K.Farrell, B.Zerk-Thatcher, D.Williams
HB: La.Jones, E.Ratugolea, D.Houston
C: M.Bergman, O.Wines, W.Drew
HF: D.Byrne-Jones, T.Marshall, C.Rozee – C
F: T.Boak, C.Dixon, W.Rioli
FOLL: J.Sweet, J.Horne-Francis, Z.Butters
I/C: J.Mead, J.Burgoyne, R.Burton, M.Georgiades, J.McEntee
EMG: D.Visentini, F.Evans, J.Finlayson
IN: R.Burton, J.McEntee
OUT: A.Aliir (Injured), S.Powell-Pepper (Injured)
CARLTON v COLLINGWOOD
Friday May 3, 7:40pm at the MCG
BLUES
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
MAGPIES
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
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SYDNEY SWANS v GWS GIANTS
Saturday May 4, 1:45pm at the SCG
SWANS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
GIANTS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
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ST KILDA v NORTH MELBOURNE
Saturday May 4, 4:35pm at Marvel Stadium
SAINTS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
KANGAROOS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
MELBOURNE v GEELONG
Saturday May 4, 7:30pm at the MCG
DEMONS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
CATS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
WEST COAST EAGLES v ESSENDON
Saturday May 4, 8:10pm at Optus Stadium
EAGLES
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
BOMBERS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
RICHMOND v FREMANTLE
Sunday May 5, 1pm at the MCG
TIGERS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
DOCKERS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
WESTERN BULLDOGS v HAWTHORN
Sunday May 5, 4pm at Marvel Stadium
BULLDOGS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
HAWKS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
BRISBANE LIONS v GOLD COAST SUNS
Sunday May 5, 7:10pm at the Gabba
LIONS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
SUNS
TBA Thursday 6:20pm
Source Agencies
