Hurley and Zaharakis fit, Crouch misses

High Five ... David Zaharakis (right) is fit and ready to roll in Essendon's opener. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

Much-vaunted Adelaide recruit Brad Crouch has missed selection for what would have been his AFL debut in the season opener against Essendon at AAMI Stadium on Friday night.

Crouch, recruited at the end of 2011 as a 17-year-old via the mini-draft and forced to wait until this year before he could play AFL, had been regarded as a round one certainty.

Instead, the midfielder has been named as an emergency for the match.

Versatile Crows tall Josh Jenkins has been named at centre-half-forward, getting first opportunity to replace the departed Kurt Tippett.

Essendon will give mature-aged recruit Nick Kommer an AFL debut, while David Zaharakis and Michael Hurley have been named despite pre-season injury problems.

Both West Coast and Fremantle have dipped into their stocks of big men to cover injury losses for their season opener on Saturday night.

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Does Adelaide's decision not to select Brad Crouch have you needing to shuffle your FOX FOOTY SuperCoach team? Don't forget to alter your line-up ahead of Friday night's season-opening clash!

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The Eagles have promoted Scott Lycett to step in for the injured Nic Naitanui, while Fremantle will play Jon Griffin and experienced Kepler Bradley after pre-season injuries to Aaron Sandilands and Zac Clarke.

Click here to see the round one AFL teams in full.

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Balotelli rues misses in Milan derby

Derby ... Mario Balotelli surges ahead for AC Milan. Source: Giuseppe Cacace / AAP

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli missed a handful of chances in his first derby in more than three years as the Rossoneri shared the spoils Sunday in a 1-1 derby draw with hosts Inter Milan.

Milan took a 21st-minute lead through striker Stephan El Shaarawy and dominated throughout before ultimately lamenting their earlier misses when Inter midfielder Ezequiel Schelotto levelled in the 71st minute.

Inter were given a pre-match boost with the inclusion of central defender Andrea Ranocchia, who had been an injury doubt all week.

Yet despite Milan's 1-0 defeat to the Nerazzurri at the San Siro earlier in the campaign, the visitors started the second 'Derby della Madonnina' as firm favourites having stunned Barcelona 2-0 in their Champions League first leg last week and climbing up to third place on the table.

Milan enjoyed the share of the early chances with Sulley Muntari and Mattia De Sciglio testing Samir Handanovic, while Inter striker Antonio Cassano had a lame shot easily collected by Christian Abbiati.

However, the visitors spurned the first of several clear chances, Balotelli slipping in front of goal after Kevin Prince Boateng had left Mattia De Sciglio's cross from the left wing at his feet.

At the other end, forward Rodrigo Palacio should have done better with an angled strike that went well side of Abbiati's far post.

Also on Sunday, Roma beat Atalanta 3-2, Cagliari downed Torino 4-3, Catania accounted for Parma 2-1, Juventus thrashed Siena 3-0 and Sampdoria defeated Chievo 2-0.

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