GEELONG will unveil its first AFL debutant, but a couple of stars have succumbed to injury ahead of Sunday’s clash with North Melbourne at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena.
Rookie draft bolter Ollie Dempsey’s VFL form has proven too hard to ignore, and he’ll become the 1100th player to wear the Hoops at VFL/AFL level.
However, Patrick Dangerfield (calf) and Jack Henry (foot) won’t take on the Roos, while Luke Dahlhaus was listed as managed after just one kick and no tackles against Hawthorn on Easter Monday.
After starting as the medi-sub in the loss to the Hawks, Jake Kolodjashnij is in the 22, while veteran midfielder Shaun Higgins has been recalled.
Zach Guthrie and Francis Evans have been elevated to the emergency list and will vie for the medi-sub role with Esava Ratugolea and Dahlhaus.
When selected with pick no.15 in last year’s Rookie Draft, Dempsey was the last player to join the Geelong list.
He favoured basketball over football during most of his high school years.
“To use the old cliche around the basketball players and the spatial awareness and all that sort of stuff, it looks like he’s picked up what we’re trying to do really quickly,” coach Chris Scott said on Friday.
“And he’s performed well at VFL level, which is something we’ve spoken about a little bit over the last couple of years.
“The way that some of our young players – players across the competition – have been deprived of VFL footy, it’s probably stunted their development a little bit.
“But, he’s taken his chance to come in straight away and perform well.”
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Dempsey is lightly-framed, with his weight listed at just 70kg.
“He will develop physically over the years, as all young players do,” Scott said.
“His strength is a bit more as an elusive player, good skills for a guy who hasn’t played much footy, and a little bit of X-factor about him.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
AFL ROUND 6
NORTH MELBOURNE (17th) vs. GEELONG (7th)
Blundstone Arena – Hobart
Sunday, April 24, 1:110pm
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