AFL round 1 teams: Melbourne, St Kilda lock in debutants

Melbourne and St Kilda will unleash a combined nine debutants on Sunday, while GWS has regained one of its biggest stars as it prepares to take on the Demons. SEE FULL ROUND 1 TEAMS

Melbourne will hand out six new jumpers in Sunday’s clash with Greater Western Sydney, including confirming debuts for a trio of first-round draftees.

Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay, who were both taken in the 2024 draft haul, will play their first games for the Demons, while Matthew Jefferson will also debut two years after being drafted No.15 in the 2022 class.

Melbourne has also locked in VFL premiership duo Aidan Johnson and Jack Henderson, who played pivotal roles in Werribee’s flag last season, for AFL debuts.

Henderson was signed as an SSP player over the summer, while Johnson was a late draft pick as a mature-aged key forward and back up ruck.

The Demons have also named former Lion Harry Sharp to play his first game for the club, having been traded from Brisbane in the summer.

DEBUT... after debut... after debut... after debut... after debut... after debut 😮😮😮😮😮😮

📝 | https://t.co/U8k5X7LUy7pic.twitter.com/Ukf1El8H7f

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) March 14, 2025

Meanwhile, St Kilda has handed a surprise debut to Irish recruit Liam O’Connell, alongside SSP signing Harry Boyd and mid-season draftee Max Hall.

O’Connell had two impressive hit outs during the preseason for St Kilda, with the club impressed with his rapid development after transferring from Gaelic football.

Boyd is expected to shoulder a heavy ruck load alongside star Rowan Marshall, with the experienced tall having an interrupted pre-season at RSEA Park.

Marshall suffered a stress fracture in his pelvis but will play in round 1, and is expected to spend a lot of time forward.

Boyd won the SANFL’s Magarey Medal in 2024, and was formally signed late in the preseason after training with the Saints for most of the summer.

Wholesome areas for our THREE AFL debutants 🥰 pic.twitter.com/kAT8YpFLK3

— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) March 14, 2025

“Liam, Harry and Max have each earned their spot through hard work and dedication, and we have full confidence in them as they step up to AFL level,” football boss David Misson said.

“Each of them will take the field knowing they have the trust and support of their teammates and coaches. We congratulate all three players and look forward to seeing them seize their opportunity on Sunday.”

Giants star Tom Green returns to a midfield brigade that dominated Collingwood, with the Giants opting to stick with Lachie Keeffe as the No.1 ruck against Max Gawn.

Meanwhile, West Coast has left out Bailey Williams, instead favouring Matt Flynn and Archer Reid to shoulder ruck duties.

Williams was the club’s first-choice ruck last year as Flynn battled injuries, but the Eagles’ selection panel has left him out.

The 203cm Reid will debut as a forward, but can provide back up ruck minutes as West Coast’s tallest player.

PIES TO FIELD ONE OF AFL’S OLDEST SIDES EVER

Collingwood will field one of the oldest sides in AFL history against Port Adelaide after omitting Ed Allan – the youngest member of the side which lost heavily to GWS.

Allan, who had 19 disposals and three clearances in the 52-point defeat, will be replaced by 27-year-old Lachie Sullivan as prized recruit Dan Houston was named to face his former club in place of Will Hoskin-Elliott (back).

Opening round substitute Ned Long held his spot, while Josh Daicos (ankle) and Jeremy Howe (knee) were both named for the Saturday night clash at the MCG.

The Power opted for a small forward line for the Saturday night clash at the MCG, picking Jordon Sweet as the sole ruckman and leaving out Ollie Lord as Mitch Georgiades and Gold Coast recruit Jack Lukosius fill the key positions up forward.

Former Swans-listed forward Jacob Konstanty will make his debut for North Melbourne alongside Finn O’Sullivan against the Western Bulldogs, who will unveil Sam Davidson and Josh Dolan.

The Kangaroos named Nick Larkey at full-forward as he battles a calf issue, but Brynn Teakle and untried basketball convert Finnbar Maley were both named in the emergencies.

There was no room for second-year father-son talent Jordan Croft in the Bulldogs’ side, while Buku Khamis was also left out with Luke Cleary set to fill the role as the third tall defender behind Rory Lobb and James O’Donnell.

Bailey Dale (quad) and Ed Richards (calf) were both named in a welcome relief for the injury-hit Dogs after the duo made it through Thursday’s main training session at Whitten Oval.

Melbourne is set to blood one of Aidan Johnson, Matt Jefferson or Jack Henderson after the trio were named on an extended bench alongside first-round draft picks Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay to face GWS on Sunday, while St Kilda could play as many as five debutants against Adelaide.

Hugh Boxshall, Max Hall, Harry Boyd, Liam O’Connell and Isaac Keeler were all named in the extended squad, which also features young defender Angus Hastie but no Arie Schoenmaker or Carlton recruit Jack Carroll.

Hawthorn opted against recalling veteran forward Jack Gunston in more favourable conditions against Essendon on Friday night, instead persisting with an extra tall defensive option in Sam Frost.

Josh Ward was named as James Worpel’s replacement after the Hawks lost the former best and fairest winner to an ankle syndesmosis injury against Sydney.

Essendon locked in former Lion Jaxon Prior for his club debut alongside draftee Isaac Kako, while Archie Roberts was named on the wing with Saad El-Hawli among the emergencies after filling that spot in the first pre-season game.

Brisbane will enter the grand final rematch against Sydney with 21 of its premiership 23 after overlooked defender Conor McKenna was the only member of the side to miss out other than the retired Joe Daniher.

Darcy Fort is set to play as a forward-ruck, with Oscar McInerney returning to fill the No. 1 role and Gold Coast recruit Sam Day not named in the squad.

Werribee VFL recruit Riley Bice will make his debut for Sydney along with former Western Bulldogs and Fremantle defender Joel Hamling, with Taylor Adams (hamstring) and Angus Sheldrick (omitted) making way.

GWS named returning star Tom Green on the field against the Demons, with Kieren Briggs (concussion) the only confirmed out for the MCG clash.