AFL Round 14 teams: Archer May and Lachlan Blakiston to debut for Essendon, Harry McKay remains out

Bailey Smith is back, Harry McKay is still out and the Bombers have somehow found two more debutants to unleash ahead of their clash with the Cats. FULL TEAMS.

Brownlow Medal favourite Bailey Smith has been named to return on Saturday and will face the Bombers, who are handing two mid-season draftees debuts.

Essendon will unveil Archie May and Lachie Blakiston, who landed at the club about two weeks ago, for the clash at the MCG.

Smith is Geelong’s only change, replacing Ted Clohesy, who was a late in last week after Smith was a late withdrawal with hamstring tightness.

Hawthorn has recalled Nick Watson for the Friday night clash with Adelaide, having recovered from his bout of illness last week.

But the Hawks will be without James Worpel, who is out with a quad complaint, and replaced by Henry Hustwaite.

The Hawks have also omitted Finn Maginness, but have not recalled Jack Scrimshaw, who was managed last week.

Lachlan Murphy is the Crows’ only change, coming in for the suspended James Peatling.

North Melbourne has replaced the injured Charlie Comben with Kallan Dawson, with the Roos making just one change after their win over West Coast.

Meanwhile the Dockers will enter the clash unchanged, opting to keep Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson together to combat Tristan Xerri.

Darcy was limited at training this week but will play on Saturday in a rare Optus Stadium away game.

The Giants will welcome back star midfielder Finn Callaghan after his shoulder injury has kept him out in recent weeks, while Harry Rowston has been recalled as well.

Jacob Wehr and Toby McMullin have been omitted from the side that will take on Brisbane at the Gabba.

Meanwhile the Lions have dropped Deven Robertson and Ty Gallop and replaced the pair with Brandon Starcevich and Sam Day, who have overcome their respective injury woes.

Port Adelaide will hand a debut to mid-season draftee Mani Liddy, who will face Melbourne on Sunday.

Jason Horne-Francis has been recalled after a minor hamstring strain, while Jeremy Finlayson has been omitted.

The Dockers will need to confirm at least one more omission with Liddy and Horne-Francis’ call up, while Jordon Sweet could also earn a recall after a 40-hit out, two goal SANFL performance.

Melbourne has not confirmed any changes yet, but Jack Viney, Tom McDonald and Harry Sharp have been added to the squad, with Viney named on field.

Carlton will not regain Harry McKay after he was a late out last week, with Hudson O’Keeffe named at centre half forward to face West Coast.

Corey Durdin, Lewis Young and Jordan Boyd have been added to the squad, with no flagged changes yet.

West Coast will be without Tom Cole against the Blues, with Tom McCarthy confirmed to debut after being added to the squad.

He has been included alongside Noah Long, Clay Hall and Bailey Williams, however all four are on the extended bench.

DONS SET FOR 51-YEAR FIRST WITH SURPRISE DOUBLE DEBUT

- Glenn McFarlane

The future of Essendon will be on display in Saturday’s bumper MCG clash with Geelong with two more debutants – mid-season draftees Archer May and Lachlan Blakiston – set to create a 51-year first for the Bombers.

It means Essendon will have debuted 10 players this season, which is the most the club has had since 1974, back when then coach Des Tuddenham named 11 first-time Bombers.

May and Blakiston have been selected to play for the Bombers’ country game against the Cats, with almost 70,000 fans tipped to attend the twilight fixture.

Mid-season draftee Archer May will debut this weekend. Picture: Essendon FC

The pair have only been at the Hangar for two weeks but have impressed the Bombers with the way they have adapted to the AFL system.

May was the club’s first pick – sixth overall – in the mid-season draft, with the 198cm forward taken from Subiaco. The 20-year-old, whose mother is the partner of AFL great Dermott Brereton, had 13 disposals and kicked a goal in his one game with the VFL Bombers.

Blakiston, 26, was taken at pick 13 by the Bombers after the 203cm ruckman from East Fremantle impressed all clubs with his form in the WAFL this year.

While he was drafted as a ruck, Blakiston played against Carlton’s VFL side last week and had 14 touches as a key defender.

The Bombers have already handed eight players their first games this season, with Luamon Lual performing well in his debut against Carlton last Sunday.

The others to have played were Zak Johnson, Isaac Kako, Tom Edwards, Lewis Hayes, Archer Day-Wicks, Angus Clarke and Saad El-Hawli.

Given the club’s long injury-list and the form of some of the club’s young players, there could be even more in the coming weeks.

May said: “I wasn’t sure why Brad was calling or if he was giving me VFL instructions, but I was genuinely speechless when he said I was in.”

“I am over the moon with excitement and so grateful for the opportunity. I’ve done a lot of work to get to where I am so when I rang Mum and Dad, they were both so proud.

“Fifteen days ago I was playing at Subiaco, and now, I’m being told I’m playing at the MCG, it is honestly crazy.

“On Saturday I just want to stay present and focus on what I can contribute to the team and hopefully make the Bomber fans proud.”

Blakiston said: “I was doing some housework and missed a call from Brad, I rang him back and he told me I’d be in the senior side this week. I couldn’t believe it. It was just sheer excitement and emotion.”

“A few years ago, I was playing local footy, and now I’m playing on the MCG. I never felt that the dream of AFL was realistic for me, so to now be achieving that goal is incredible.”

Originally published as AFL Round 14 teams: Archer May and Lachlan Blakiston to debut for Essendon, Harry McKay remains out