Sam Weideman to make his AFL debut for Melbourne against Hawthorn

PRIZED Melbourne draftee Sam Weideman will make his AFL debut against Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.

PRIZED Melbourne draftee Sam Weideman will make his AFL debut against Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.

The No.9 pick, who is the grandson of Collingwood great Murray Weideman, has impressed in the VFL in his first season with the Demons, booting 20 goals from 11 games.

Melbourne coach Paul Roos confirmed on Thursday afternoon the 195cm athletic key forward will play against the Hawks.

“We’ve been a little bit cautious with him this year. At the start of the year, with injuries in the TAC Cup, we thought we mightn’t have seen him playing seniors (this yea),” he told the club’s website.

“But we’ve managed him really well this year and he’s come off his best game last week — he had a terrific game — and he’s played a lot of footy and been managed really well.

“He’s got himself in some good form, so it’s pretty exciting.”

Weideman was a standout for Casey in the VFL last weekend, booting 3.1 from 14 disposals and nine marks.

Sam Weideman will make his AFL debut for Melbourne against Hawthorn on Saturday. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

Casey coach Justin Plapp rated it the 19-year-old’s “best four quarter performance in all areas of his game” for the season.

Weideman’s inclusion places further foubt on the fitness of young star Jesse Hogan, who is racing the clock to be fit to play against the Hawks despite Demons fitness boss Dave Misson on Wednesday declaring him a 50-50 chance.

Roos said Melbourne will name Hogan in the team on Thursday night and will give him every chance to prove his fitness.

Recruited from Eastern Ranges, highly-respected list manager Gary Buckenara rated Weideman as the ninth-best player in last year’s draft crop and told the Herald Sun he is similar to a young Matthew Pavlich.

“He has very similar traits to Pavlich in that he competes really well, kick the ball well, he’s very athletic, is a nice size and is a potential key-position player,” Buckenara said.

Weideman battled injury during last year’s TAC Cup and didn’t play a game after ankle surgery last May but that didn’t deter the Demons from selecting him in the top 10.

Originally published as Sam Weideman to make his AFL debut for Melbourne against Hawthorn