Wizard Cup squads:
Richmond v Melbourne
2:48:09 PM Wed 19 February, 2003
Samantha Lane
afl.com.au
Star Tiger forward Matthew Richardson has been named in Richmond’s round one squad for its Wizard Home Loans Cup match against Melbourne on Friday night, despite being under an injury cloud.
Richardson was reported to be carrying a wrist complaint following an accident at home recently, but has been selected in the club’s 28-man squad.
Budding goalsneak Andrew Krakouer has also been named after an intra-club mishap last week when he corked a thigh. Initially Krakouer looked to have damaged an ankle, and was carried from the field.
Former Crow Kane Johnson will make his début in the yellow and black after an impressive pre-season, while ex-Bomber Justin Blumfield will miss due to a bout of osteitis pubis. Veteran skipper Wayne Campbell will also be rested having only just begun full training this week.
Meanwhile, the Demons should exhibit their two big-name recruits in the match, with former Bombers Chris Heffernan and Gary Moorcroft coming straight into the side. Guy Rigoni is also set to begin his AFL comeback after missing the entire 2002 season with a back injury.
The Dees have selected young and inexperienced talls Brad Miller, Aaron Rogers and Ryan Ferguson to help cover the loss of defenders Craig Ellis and Alastair Nicholson, who are both recovering from knee injuries.
Adem Yze (ankle) and Peter Vardy (achilles) will be rested.
Richmond: Rory Hilton, Darren Gaspar, Matthew Rogers, Brad Ottens, Mark Chaffey, Kayne Pettifer, Greg Stafford, Joel Bowden, Matthew Richardson, Aaron Fiora, Leon Cameron, David Rodan, Clinton King, Craig Biddiscombe, Daniel Sipthorp, Mark Coughlan, Jay Schulz, Andrew Krakoeur, Kane Johnson, Martin McGrath, Chris Hyde, Greg Tivendale, Andrew Mills, Chris Newman, Andrew Kellaway, Kelvin Moore, Royce Vardy, Adam Houlihan.
Melbourne: Chris Heffernan, Steven Armstrong, Clint Bizzell, Scott Thompson, Gary Moorcroft, David Neitz, Daniel Ward, Travis Johnstone, Michael Clark, Brad Green, James McDonald, Russell Robertson, Nathan Brown, Luke Williams, Aaron Rogers, Chris Lamb, Simon Godfrey, Paul Wheatley, Cameron Bruce, Jeff White, Ryan Ferguson, Andrew Leoncelli, Brad Miller, Daniel Breese, Mark Jamar, Peter Walsh, Guy Rigoni, Matthew Whelan.