Melbourne defender Marty Hore is firming for a Round 1 AFL debut against Port Adelaide

It was only a few months ago Marty Hore was working on his parents’ farm when he got the biggest phone call of his life. Now the Melbourne mature-aged defender is set to make his AFL debut.

Marty Hore looks set to make his AFL debut. Picture: Getty Images

Mature-aged defender Marty Hore looks set to go from the back of an Echuca farm straight into Melbourne’s Round 1 side after an excellent JLT Series.

Hore was recruited by the Demons at pick 56 in last year’s draft after back-to-back best-and-fairest awards playing in Collingwood’s VFL side.

Literally recruited by the Demons last November while he was working on an excavator on the family 400-cow dairy farm near Echuca, the rebounding defender is in a strong position to play Round 1.

SUPERCOACH JURY: WHICH PLAYERS ARE YOU PICKING?

SHOCK TURN: SHOCK KICK-IN RULE IMPACT REVEALED

SUPERCOACH: SPECIAL JLT SCOUTING REPORT

That would make the defender a bargain SuperCoach selection — he’s available for just $117,300 in the backline.

The 190cm marking defender kept Brisbane’s Cam Rayner to only two possessions by halftime on the weekend, with the Lion finishing with a single goal and three marks from 11 disposals.

Melbourne will be without Jake Lever and the suspended Steven May against Port Adelaide, with defender Joel Smith pushing forward as a target alongside Tom McDonald.

Last year’s mature-aged revelation Bailey Fritsch has moved up to the wing, leaving a gap for a mid-sized marking player who can also play a tight-checking role.

Marty Hore impressed throughout the JLT Series. Picture: Getty Images

Hore would also seem to have beaten out Jayden Hunt for a position in the back six after the pacy defender was trialled forward against the Lions.

The AFL has given Melbourne co-captains Jack Viney and Nathan Jones permission to skip Friday’s captain’s day media appearance as they prove their fitness at Casey Fields instead.

Max Gawn will attend the captain’s call at the MCG at midday, with Viney and Jones to take part in a critical pre-Round 1 training session that will include match simulation.

Viney (ankle) and Jones (hamstring) played VFL on the weekend in their first hitouts of the summer and are both desperate to play against Port Adelaide in Round 1 on Saturday March 23.

But they need to prove their fitness to the coaching staff and Friday’s closed Casey Fields training session is a key part of that process.

The AFL’s 18 captains are brought together for a yearly press call that includes a breakfast with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan and a photo of the captains.

Viney and Jones wouldn’t have been able to complete the full session and make their way in from Casey Fields to take part in the captain’s call.

Hore averaged 14.5 disposals, 3.5 marks, 5.5 intercept possessions and five spoils in the JLT series as well as playing against Collingwood in an official practice match.

Bendigo Pioneers talent manager Steve Sharp said on Thursday the Demons had been desperately close to recruiting him two years ago after Simon Goodwin and the recruiting team visited his parents’ farm pre-draft.

Marty Hore was a standout in the VFL for Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

He said Hore smacked of character, after travelling 90 minutes to Bendigo training twice a week then going to Collingwood to keep up his AFL dream.

In the VFL last year he averaged 9.2 intercept possessions and 4.4 intercept marks — ranked third behind only Aaron Francis and new Gold Coast recruit Sam Collins.

Key position defender Sam Frost returned from injury through a VFL practice match last weekend and will also push strongly to play against the Power.

He played all three finals last year as a dashing key position defender, but there could potentially be space for Oscar McDonald, Frost and Fritsch alongside Neville Jetta, Michael Hibberd and Jordan Lewis.

Originally published as Melbourne defender Marty Hore is firming for a Round 1 AFL debut against Port Adelaide