HAMPDEN will unveil nine interleague debutants against Murray tomorrow.
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Highly-rated Portland coach Luke Crane and two-time Warrnambool premiership midfielder Damien McCorkell are among the Bottle Greens’ new faces.
Camperdown duo Cam Spence and Jack Williams, Koroit premiership player James Gow, South Warrnambool utility Olle Lee, North Warrnambool Eagles pair Sam McLachlan and Adam Wines and Portland ruckman Ben Malcolm highlight Hampden’s next generation.
Bottle Greens coach Chris McLaren said he was rapt to have Crane in the line-up.
The former Sturt star has battled a groin complaint but trained strongly on Tuesday and put his hand up to play.
McLaren said the Magarey Medallist oozed class and would play onball and as a small forward.
“It depends on how he’s feeling,” he said of Crane’s position.
“Obviously he’s a playing coach and has taken injury into games, so sometimes he’s not been in peak condition but if he’s feeling good he’ll have a run on the ball.”
McLaren said Lee, who has travelled home from university in Geelong to train, was the surprise packet of the Bottle Greens’ preparations.
Lee, the only Rooster in the final 22, will start on the bench and could be used as a key defender, forward or pinch-hitting ruckman.
“He played quite well against Koroit two weeks ago and has trained really well,” McLaren said.
“He is a really good size and covers the ground really well.” McLaren said Hampden, with captain Sam Cowling at the helm, had built camaraderie which he hoped would culminate in strong teamwork tomorrow.
“Each night we’ve trained they gotten around each other more,” he said.
“They are laughing and having a chat. They’ve all gelled together.”
Former Essendon and Brisbane footballer Damian Cupido heads the Peter White-coached Murray squad.
Koroit premiership player Blair McCutcheon will captain Hampden’s under 18½ team, with North Warrnambool Eagles’ Sam McKinnon and Warrnambool’s James Willsher his deputies.
Meanwhile, there is a strong Hampden flavour throughout other representative squads.
Former Portland ruckman Rowan Marshall will represent Ballarat.
Marshall, a North Ballarat Rebels graduate, is playing for Sebastopol as he strives to earn a VFL berth at North Ballarat Roosters.
He was named at centre half-forward in the Ballarat team, which includes an extended bench featuring ex-South Warrnambool utility Liam Youl.
Terang Mortlake export Xavier Moloney will again represent Central Murray after impressing for Swan Hill.
Ex-Cobden utility Paul Hinkley, named at centre half-back for Geelong, was subsequently forced to withdraw with injury.
He was under notice after an impressive display for the Bottle Greens on former AFL spearhead-turned Ovens and Murray representative Brendan Fevola 12 months ago.
Hinkley is now playing with Newtown and Chilwell.