AFL 2024: Every debutant for Round 0 and Round 1

Western Bulldogs have named a round 1 bolter and confirmed the debut of their prized No.6 draftee, while North Melbourne and Hawthorn will unveil fresh faces this weekend. See every round 1 debutant here.

Two of Western Bulldogs’ young pups will debut in round 1 against Melbourne including prized draftee Ryley Sanders.

The Bulldogs confirmed the worst-kept secret at Whitten Oval when they announced No.6 draftee Sanders would play his first AFL game.

Sanders has won rave reviews during pre-season, with Luke Beveridge recently saying he was “well ahead of any first-year players that I’ve ever seen come through our football club.”

Sanders told the club website: “It’s an unreal opportunity to debut at any time, but especially in round one in front of a big crowd at the MCG against a good side in Melbourne – it’ll be great.”

Sanders will be joined in the Dogs’ team by the No.39 pick from the 2022 draft, former Bendigo Pioneers captain Harvey Gallagher.

The 181cm Gallagher averaged 13 disposals, three marks and two tackles in nine VFL games last season.

“It’s been a bit of an interrupted first year, but after a solid pre-season it’s been good to get the runs on the board,” Gallagher said.

“It’s pretty cool debuting at the ‘G too – I’ve never played there so that will be pretty nice as well.”

The pair will be part of a new-look Western Bulldogs side featuring club debutants Lachie Bramble, James Harmes and Nick Coffield.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn’s No.5 selection Nick Watson will play his first game in brown and gold against Essendon on Saturday.

Former Sydney-listed defender Toby Pink will play his first game for North Melbourne against GWS Giants.

On Friday, Fremantle confirmed former Gold Coast Sun Jeremy Sharp would play his first match as a Docker against Brisbane Lions.

The Dockers have also named former Melbourne and Carlton defender Oscar McDonald.
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Esava Ratugolea and Ivan Soldo will play their first matches for Port Adelaide, while No.1 pick Harley Reid has been named in the middle for West Coast.

— Tim Michell

Lets see a bit of magic from the wizard this week 🪄

The moment Watto found out he is debuting! 🥹 pic.twitter.com/bA6RW9Nx6X

— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) March 14, 2024

SAINTS INJECT LIVELY SMALL FORWARD TO TACKLE CATS

Lance Collard will join Darcy Wilson as AFL debutants for the Saints this Saturday against Geelong.

Collard was known for the miraculous at his WAFL club Subiaco, with the Saints hoping he can do something similar when they head down the highway.

Collard was a member of West Coast’s Next Generation Academy, however ended up calling St Kilda home after being selected at pick No. 28 in the 2023 draft.

Lance Collard will debut for the Saints on Saturday. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

ROOS LOCK IN TOP PICKS FOR ROUND 1

North Melbourne have confirmed that both Colby McKercher and Zane Duursma will debut for the club in round 1 against GWS.

Both top-four picks in the 2023 draft, the announcement was no surprise given McKercher and Duursma have so much talent and had strong pre-seasons.

St Kilda’s Darcy Wilson will also play his first game when the Saints take on the Cats in Geelong on Saturday night..

Wilson was taken with pick 18 in November and is an endurance beast, winning St Kilda’s 3km time trial back in December.

Zane Duursma and Colby McKercher will begin their AFL careers this weekend. Picture: Michael Klein

CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES ON EVERY DEBUT

DEBUTANT DEAN

- Glenn McFarlane

It was the desperate smother in the middle of Collingwood’s match simulation on Thursday that gave the game away ... luckless defender Charlie Dean was finally going to get the AFL debut match that was so cruelly ripped away from him two years ago.

Reef McInnes was ready to snap around his body at goal when his opponent Dean launched at his boot and smothered the footy.

At least 10 of Dean’s teammates ran from one end of the AIA Centre to the other to congratulate him, knowing he had all but locked in an opening round first-game against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night.

Think Charlie was a little bit caught of guard by the news 🤣 pic.twitter.com/95qgdxUSFD

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) March 7, 2024

Half an hour later, the 22-year-old’s elevation into the Magpies’ defence minus Jeremy Howe and Nathan Murphy was officially confirmed when coach Craig McRae told the playing group and it was met by a riotous roar worthy of the hard work Dean had put in to get to this moment.

“He (Dean) is a great story,” McRae said. “He is a great systems player and we are really confident we will see a guy who plays a Collingwood style. He gets this opportunity and we are really, really pleased for him.

“I like looking at life when you get something taken away from you … where do you put your attention? What you’ve lost? Or what you can gain? This young lad put his energy into what he could gain, and he is ready to go.”

But even the coach admitted he was a little anxious before training, desperate for Dean to get through another session without an issue, given he had been so close to a round 1 selection back in 2022 before a broken foot and a series of recurrent issues took away that dream.

Charlie Dean of the Magpies is congratulated by assistant coach Josh Fraser. Picture: Michael Klein

“I think he would have played (in) round 1 way back (in 2022, just months after he was plucked out of the VFL and Williamstown), but today coming out to training, I was like ‘Please get through training,” McRae said.

“The young lad has worked so hard for the opportunity.

“Charlie’s last couple of years have been struck down by injury, the foot just (kept) getting re-injured and this time last year, he got ruled out for the whole year.

“The things you don’t see are all the hours staring at the black line in the pool … and trying to regain your belief in your body.”

Dean played one VFL game last year, ending a playing absence of more than 500 days with an appearance in the finals.

Now, he is ready to take on the might of the Giants in starting a career that is back on track after being so cruelly interrupted.

He will be joined in the backline by John Noble, who will play his first AFL game since round 24 last year, after putting behind him the disappointment of missing out on the Magpies’ flag last year.

YZE UNVEILS ANOTHER TIGER CUB

Richmond will unveil Seth Campbell in the opening round, with the former rookie draft selection to debut against the Suns.

Campbell played just five VFL games last season after a host of groin and leg issues, however he has been impressive in the pre-season for Richmond and will get his chance in the absence of a host of senior Tiger stars.

Star midfielder Dion Prestia said Campbell had been impressive in the summer.

“I’ve really liked Seth Campbell’s pre-season,” he said.

“He played in the Collingwood game last week and I think he’s had an amazing pre-season, doing most of the running with Tim Taranto, who’s one of the best in the competition.

“For a second-year player to come in and be able to do that and really take his game to the next level... Seth’s one that I’m really excited to see.”

Richmond will play Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.

Seth Campbell will debut for Richmond on Saturday. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

DEES DUO TO DEBUT IN OPENING ROUND

Melbourne will unveil two debutants in its Opening Round clash against Sydney.

The Demons used social media on Monday morning to announce Caleb Windsor and Blake Howes will be named to face the Swans on Thursday night.

Former Saint Jack Billings will also make his Demons debut in the season opener.

Clayton Oliver will also play despite a heavily interrupted pre-season.

Windsor forced selectors’ hands with an outstanding pre-season, capped off with two goals off a wing against Carlton in Melbourne’s final practice match.

Recruited from the Eastern Ranges with pick 7 in last year’s national draft, Windsor has filled the void left by a calf injury to Lachie Hunter.

Caleb Windsor has starred in the pre-season. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Howes was selected with pick 39 in the 2021 draft and impressed across half-back against the Blues.

Both could be cheap options in SuperCoach this year.

Billings has slotted in at half-forward and helped improve Melbourne’s ball use going inside 50, a clear need after last season.

The No.3 pick in the 2013 draft played 155 games and kicked 108 goals for St Kilda before being traded to the Demons for a future third-round draft pick last October.