Portland teenager to debut on Anzac Day blockbuster

The 19-year-old is one of three changes to the Tigers' side heading into the annual fixture against Hamilton Kangaroos, who have made two alterations.

Fellow teenager Tanner Lovell, 17, and swingman Dylan Barr both return to the side, while young trio Tanner Stone, Zane Barker and Connor Giddings are omitted from the side that lost to Port Fairy in round two.

First-year Portland playing-coach Tom Sharp said Anson's form had impressed him.

"He has been playing well in reserves and he's really good by hand and foot," the 26-year-old said. "He works really hard and plays that small role well and wins the footy and I think he will be good for seniors."

Sharp said Lovell and Barr would "add more flair" to his side after they missed the loss to the Seagulls.

Hamilton coach Matt Dunn has named an extended squad for the Anzac Day blockbuster.

Hamish Waldron (sick) returns, while Jack English, Dakin and Taine Morris earn promotions from the Kangaroos' reserves. Jack Pertzel and Dylan Godwin have been omitted.

The fourth-year mentor said Waldron would bring added experience to Hamilton's midfield brigade.

"His leadership and experience is important to how we operate structurally and he is big for our ball movement and how we operate around the ground," he said.

Dunn said English and Dakin Morris inclusion would inject speed into his side,while Taine Morris could slot into a key-position role at either end of the ground.

Both the coaches said their teams will attend their respective town's dawn services as a way to prepare for the special fixture.

"It's something we have done every year and it is special to get around a special cause and it's important for the boys to see that," Sharp said.

The Tigers coach also said his side would need to shut down the Kangaroos prominent players to score a victory, while Dunn has asked for a four-quarter effort from his charges.

"We started well against South but dropped away," he said. "Being better is important and so is maintaining pressure for four quarters.

"Round one was an opportunity to see how best the operates and we made few adjustment and the same after South with how they used the footy and we corrected a few things in offence and defence.

"With the bye we have had extra training sessions as we had things we have been trying to tweak and put into place and hopefully we bring it all together on Thursday."

Last season the two teams played twice. In round three Portland won by 40 points and in the return fixture in round 12 the Kangaroos won by 55 points.

Sharp said his side embraced every opportunity they get to play its closest neighbour.

"It has been a good rivalry since we both come across from Western Boarder into the Hampden league," he said.

"We are both yet to taste ultimate success but it's always a good contest and Anzac Day exemplifies it."

Seniors

Hamilton Kangaroos:

(B) Sam Brewer, Hugh Douglas, Christopher Quinn

(HB) Angus Noske, Jandre Slabbert, Jarrod O'Brien

(C) Sean Barnes, Hamish Waldron, Brady Hicks

(HF) Dylan Starkie, Darcy Russell, Luke Uebergang

(F) Joshua Pepper, Levi Dare, Harry Waters

(R) Jack Hickey, Tyrone Ross, Rory Gill

(Int) Jack English, Joseph Franklin, Dakin Morris, Taine Morris, Charles Murrie

Portland

B: Dylan Barr, Patrick Pekin, Sam Hampshire

HB: David Denboer, Damien Bell, Rhys Egan

C: Thomas Haylock, Aaron Shepherd, Felix Jones

HF: Tanner Lovell, Jai Langenberg, Harry McIntyre

F: Patrick Haylock, Ben Malcolm, Thomas Sharp

R: Tylar Watts, Daniel Falcone, Harris Jennings

Int: Cooper Anson, Daniel Jackson, Edmund Pritchard

Reserves:

Hamilton Kangaroos

B: Jonathon Manson, Adrian Linke, Bryce McDonald

HB: Thomas McGinley, Joshua Meulendyks, Sean Nippress

C: Tobi Cook, Mick McMeel, Jack English

HF: Matthew Lipiarski, Jack Pertzel, James Pike

F: Angus Brown, Allan Martin, James MacAuslan

R: James Whyte, Dakin Morris, Dylan Godwin

Int: Tim Meulendyks, Sean Picken, Scott Richards, William Winter-Cooke

Portland

B: Lachlan Berry, Digby Sharp, Jayden Clark

HB: Bryce Daniel, Daniel Chisholm, Will Oakley

C: Brody Fishwick, Taylor Murrell, Samuel Ord

HF: Lachlan Murray, Jackson Dunlop, Brock Stevenson

F: Lachlan Goldby, James Roberts, Harrison Kerr

R: Cody Driscoll, Tannar Stone, Nathan Valori

Int: Ian Ford, Zane Jones, Jesse McMillan

Under 18.5:

Hamilton Kangaroos

B: Lachlan Holcombe, Marcus Rhook, Dylan Ross

HB: Harrison Armstrong, Kobi Walter, Thomas Letts

C: Harry English, Jye Uebergang, Liam Walsh

HF: Riley Alexander, Noah Uebergang, Ryan Burgess

F: Bradley Field, Kieran Barker, Josh Kealy

R: Xavier Stevens, Nicholas Vallance, Luke Barnes

Int: Nicholas Gunn, Tim Kealy

Portland

B: Conor Drought, Baxter Hollis, Ryan Nash

HB: Damon Huppatz, Harry Punton, Samuel Roberts

C: Cameron Gleeson, Noah Sandeman, Liam Uebergang

HF: Toby Jennings, Harold Pritchard , Jed Saunders

F: Lachlan Kirk, Luke Driscoll, Mitchell McLeod

R: Toby Oakley, Jordi Withers, Oliver Marshall

Int: Zane Barker, Remington Clarke, Jeremy-Jake Hollander, Rory Longney, Austin Richardson, Joshua Stiles

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