Matthew Kreuzer and Majak Daw set to make local footy debuts on Saturday

Ex-AFL stars Matthew Kreuzer and Majak Daw are set to make their local footy debuts in the same match on Saturday with a big crowd expected.

It’s happening.

As if Greensborough’s clash with North Heidelberg on Saturday didn’t have enough riding on it already, two ex-AFL guns will debut.

Former Carlton big man Matthew Kreuzer will suit up for the Borough, while recently retired Majak Daw is locked in for the Bulldogs.

The pair’s arrival is expected to draw a big crowd to the NFL Division 1 blockbuster at War Memorial Reserve.

Both successfully completed training on Thursday night and were confirmed to play on Friday.

Matthew Kreuzer in green.

Majak Daw in red, white and blue.

Kreuzer had been on track to play earlier in the season before a COVID and then injury setback cruelled his hopes.

The 2007 No. 1 draft pick’s last game was Carlton’s Round 1 clash against Richmond in 2020 where he suffered a foot injury.

However, the St Mary’s Greensborough junior has been training with the Borough throughout the season in the hopes of making a comeback.

Carlton VFL-listed midfielder Joel Trudgeon could also make his third appearance for the season, while Richmond VFL-listed utility Tom Brindley has also been named.

Meanwhile, Daw signed for North Heidelberg after calling time on his AFL career last month and has recovered from a pectoral injury that dashed hopes of a Melbourne AFL debut.

The North Melbourne and Melbourne AFL-listed tall returns to Shelley Reserve after initially joining the club in 2021 before the Demons’ offered another AFL opportunity.

With Coburg on a VFL bye, North could also have the services of Jhye Baddeley-Kelly but with North Melbourne playing Hawthorn in Tasmania, Brent Harvey is unavailable.

Outside of the high-anticipated debuts, the match has major finals ramifications for both clubs.

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Sitting fifth, Greensborough can all but seal the top-five with a victory, which would move it six points clear of Macleod in sixth and two-and-a-half games clear of seventh-placed North.

The Bulldogs are desperate to keep their finals hopes alive and would move past Macleod into sixth on percentage with a win – two points behind the Borough.

In Saturday’s other Division 1 clash, Whittlesea hosts Montmorency to complete the split Round 14.

An upset win would put the Eagles in the box seat to survive relegation while Montmorency are looking to lock in a finals double chance.