Jackson Thurlow, of Launceston, has been selected to play in Geelong's NAB Cup squad.
JACKSON Thurlow's red-hot preseason has rewarded him with selection in Geelong's opening round NAB Cup squad.
Thurlow, who with Lauderdale's Sam Siggins (Adelaide) and Glenorchy's Jimmy Webster (St Kilda) will be one of three Tasmanians to get their first taste of the big time this weekend, was the Cats' first selection (16th overall) in last year's national draft.
The 19-year-old running half-back from Launceston, who has already been compared to veteran Cat Corey Enright, will get the chance to show what he can do on the wide expanses of Patersons Stadium after being named in the squad that will face West Coast and Fremantle.
Tall defender Siggins, who turns 19 next month, came to Adelaide with the 62nd pick in last year's national draft, and has been named to face Port Adelaide and St Kilda on Sunday.
Webster, 19, was the 42nd selection in the 2011 national draft, but the defender did not play any senior football for the Saints last year.
Former Richmond ruckman Angus Graham will also make his debut for Adelaide.
The King Islander who played 48 games with the Tigers before being traded at the end of last season, joins Clarence veteran Ian Callinan in the Crows' squad.
Fremantle's sole Tasmanian, Jesse Crichton, the Derby boy who was delisted and redrafted at the end of last year, has been given a chance to impress tomorrow night.
The preseason competition begins tonight at Etihad Stadium, with Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs and Essendon in action.
West Moonah's Liam Jones will be using the matches to help remind the football public what a talented key forward he is.
After a dominant 2011 which saw the 22-year-old Bulldog earn a rising star nomination and was equal fifth in the league for contested marks, Jones's fall from grace was dramatic.
He kicked nine goals from 12 games, being dropped on three occasions.
Former Launceston ruckman Thomas Bellchambers is another who will be looking for his football to do the talking, but for a completely different reason.
Bellchambers and his Essendon teammates will enter tonight's matches with the cloud that is the AFL and ASADA investigations well and truly hanging over their heads.
The 23-year-old, who is tipped to be one of the leagues most dangerous big men this year after a strong 2012, will wear the No.2 jumper after wearing 44 in his first 43 games in the red and black.
