Ex-RAMS get their chance in NAB Cup

Nine former NSW/ACT RAMS players will get an opportunity to showcase their talents this Saturday in the NAB Cup between GWS GIANTS, Collingwood and Western Bulldogs.

The GIANTS will give southern NSW trio Anthony Miles, Jacob Townsend and Mark Whiley a chance to impress while Canberra products Josh Bruce and co-captain Phil Davis will pull on the orange and charcoal guernsey for the first time.

Similarly, Collingwood’s prized NSW recruit, 208cm, 111kg ruckman, Jarrod Witts will play his first game for the Magpies alongside western Sydney’s Michael Hartley and Tom Young who debuted for the club last season.

For the Western Bulldogs, 24-year-old Sydney-raised Dylan Addison will look to lock down his defensive position ahead of the season proper. Addison has played 59 matches with the club since being drafted with pick 27 in the 2005 Draft. 

It will be a historic night for Australian football in NSW/ACT with the debut of the GWS GIANTS and a number of our local talented players.

Tickets can still be bought from www.ticketmaster.com.au.

Round one, NAB Cup teams
Collingwood | GWS | Western Bulldogs
Blacktown Sportspark, Saturday February 18, 7.15pm

COLLINGWOOD
1. Alex Fasolo, 6. Tyson Goldsack, 12. Luke Ball, 13. Dale Thomas, 15. Jarrod Witts, 18. Darren Jolly, 22. Steele Sidebottom, 23. Lachlan Keeffe, 25. Tom Young, 27. Simon Buckley, 28. Ben Sinclair, 29. Jonathan Ceglar, 30. Brent Macaffer, 31. Chris Dawes, 33. Jackson Paine, 34. Alan Toovey, 36. Dane Swan, 38. Peter Yagmoor, 39. Heath Shaw, 40. Paul Seedsman, 45. Lachlan Smith, 46.  Marley Williams, 47. Michael Hartley, 48. Caolan Mooney, 50. Shae McNamara

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
1. Phil Davis, 2. Curtly Hampton, 3. Stephen Coniglio, 4. Israel Folau, 6. Luke Power, 8.   Callan Ward, 9. Tom Scully, 11. Chad Cornes, 13. Sam Darley, 14. Tomas Bugg, 15. Tim Golds, 16. Nathan Wilson, 18. Jeremy Cameron, 19. Nick Haynes, 20. Adam Tomlinson, 22. Shaun Edwards, 23. Sam Reid, 24. Steve Clifton, 25. Anthony Miles, 26. Jonathan Giles, 27. Andrew Phillips, 28. Liam Sumner, 29. Dom Tyson, 31. Jacob Townsend, 32. Gerald Ugle, 34. Devon Smith, 35. Toby Greene, 36. Jack Hombsch, 38. James McDonald, 39. Tim Mohr, 42. Mark Whiley, 44. Tom Downie, 47. Josh Bruce, 49. Rhys Cooyou

WESTERN BULLDOGS
1. Jarrad Grant, 2. Robert Murphy, 3. Mitch Wallis, 4. Daniel Cross, 5. Matthew Boyd, 8. Patrick Veszpremi, 10. Easton Ward, 12. Tom Williams, 13. Daniel Giansiracusa, 14. Clay Smith, 16. Ryan Griffen, 19. Liam Jones, 21. Tom Liberatore, 22. Dylan Addison, 23. Jordan Roughead, 25. Ryan Hargrave, 26. Zephaniah Skinner, 27. Will Minson, 29. Tory Dickson, 30. Christian Howard, 32, Michael Talia, 37. Lukas Markovic, 40. Luke Dahlhaus, 42, Liam Picken, 48. Matthew Panos, 49. Ayce Cordy

PLAYER BIOS

Mark Whiley
AFL Club: GWS Giants
Height: 190cm
Weight: 85kg
DOB: 1/12/1992
Club: NSW/ACT RAMS, Finley (NSW)
Guernsey No. 42
Info: Whiley was one of GWS’ first signings as a 17-year-old. Whiley, a rebounding defender from Finley developed through the AFL NSW/ACT Joss Talent Program. He spent 2011 on GWS’ list developing his football under Kevin Sheedy, Mark Williams and Allan McConnell.

Anthony Miles
AFL Club: GWS Giants
Height: 181cm
Weight: 79kg
DOB: 28/02/92
Club: NSW/ACT RAMS, Murray Bushrangers, Albury
Guernsey No. 25
Info: Miles, an inside midfielder from Howlong near Albury, is hailed as a natural leader, having captained both the Under-16 and Under-18 NSW/ACT RAMS at the NAB AFL Championships. Miles was runner up in the Murray Bushrangers TAC Cup Best and Fairest in 2009 as a bottom-age player. He spent 2011 on GWS’ list developing his football under Kevin Sheedy, Mark Williams and Allan McConnell.

Josh Bruce
AFL Club: GWS Giants
Height: 197cm
Weight: 90kg
DOB: 08/06/92
Club: NSW/ACT RAMS, Eastlake
Guernsey No. 47
Info: Bruce is a key position prospect from Canberra’s Eastlake Football Club. Bruce’s great strength is his endurance running, which sets him apart from other players his size. He spent 2011 on GWS’ list developing his football under Kevin Sheedy, Mark Williams and Allan McConnell.

Jacob Townsend
AFL Club: GWS Giants
Height: 187cm
Weight: 84kg
DOB: 20/06/93
Club: NSW/ACT RAMS, Leeton-Whitton
Guernsey No. 31
Info: The 18-year-old was selected for the AIS-AFL Academy Program. He is a developing utility with great skills. He spent 2011 on GWS’ list developing his football under Kevin Sheedy, Mark Williams and Allan McConnell.

Phil Davis
AFL Club: GWS GIANTS
Recruited from: Adelaide Crows
Height: 197cm
Weight: 94kg
Guernsey No. 1
Info: Phil Davis is a promising, 21 year old, key defender. Phil grew up in Canberra until his was 14 and attended Marist College before moving to South Australia. Phil played his junior football at St Peter’s College in South Australia before representing North Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Adelaide Football Club selected Phil with pick number 10 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft. The GIANTS recruited Davis as one of their uncontracted player signings. He was named co-captain in the week leading up to the NAB Cup.

Michael Hartley
Club: Collingwood
Recruited from: Sydney University/Penrith Swans
DOB: 7/6/1993
Height: 196cm
Weight: 78kg
Guernsey No. 47
Info: Tall defender who joined Collingwood’s NSW Scholarship list in 2008 as a 14-year-old. Learned the game with the Penrith Swans before joining Sydney University. Represented the RAMS at the 2011 U18 National Championships where he successfully blanketed Greater Western Sydney’s No. 1 draft pick Jonathon Patton. Has a strong basketball background which has enabled him to have stints in the ruck during his junior career. Played in four of the last five games of the VFL season for Collingwood where he impressed as a key defender.

Jarrod Witts
AFL Club: Collingwood
Height: 208 cm
Weight: 113 kg
DOB: 13/10/1992
Recruited from: NSW/ACT RAMS, St Ives FC
Guernsey No. 15
Info: Witts, 19, is a 208-centimetre key position prospect who has represented his state in both rugby union and cricket. Jarrod represented NSW as an overage player at the under 18 national championships winning the MVP for an outstanding performance. He had only played five games of AFL in total before Collingwood signed him on a NSW Scholarship. He’s athletic and physically will develop into a very strong potential ruckman/power-forward.

Tom Young
AFL Club: Collingwood
Height: 191cm
Weight:  91kg
DOB: 26/04/1992
Recruited from: Wollondilly/Sydney University/ NSW/ACT RAMS
Guernsey No. 25
Info: A smooth mover at half back and through the midfield, Young has spent the past two years building steadily in the club’s VFL team. Although not overly fast, Young is a reliable decision maker with nice disposal and great awareness in heavy traffic. He uses his body well to avoid tackles and has been a key playmaker in the VFL over the past two years. Young has been in the Collingwood system since 2007 on a NSW Scholarship, meaning he was more familiar than most young players when he was added to the club’s senior list. Made a big impression on debut against the Lions at the MCG and is one player who may become a senior regular in 2012

Dylan Addison
AFL Club: Western Bulldogs
Height: 185cm
Weight: 82kg
DOB: 07/10/87
Recruited from: St George/NSW/ACT RAMS
Guernsey No. 22
Info: The hard at-it defender/midfielder showed what he was capable of in round eight with 19 disposals and a career-high six tackles against Richmond. Has a terrific competitive spirit and will get his chance to fit into a contested-style game plan in 2012. Signed a contract extension last November.