Round 1 debuts: Melbourne will hand out six new jumpers in Sunday’s clash with GWS

It’s been a summer of change at Melbourne – and it will continue on Sunday, with the Demons to hand out six new jumpers for the clash with GWS.

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.

Jack Henderson will make his AFL debut on Sunday. Picture: MelbourneFC

Dogs name fresh faces, Freo pick bolter

– Lauren Wood

The Western Bulldogs will have three club debutants this weekend – including mature-age recruit and medical student Sam Davidson.

Former Blue and Giant Matt Kennedy and draftees Josh Dolan and Davidson were told at training by coach Luke Beveridge on Thursday morning that they’ll be taking on North Melbourne on Saturday night.

Kennedy has played 118 games at GWS and Carlton and was traded to the Dogs at the end of last season.

Davidson, 23, is a tall forward who was plucked from Richmond’s VFL outfit and has completed five years of a six-year medical degree.

He has described himself as a “nuffy” Bulldogs fan with his pending debut no doubt a dream come true.

Josh Dolan. Picture: Michael Klein

Sam Davidson. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan – who remains a way off playing senior football – returned to Whitten Oval for the session as promised to club staff after missing scheduled sessions on Monday and Tuesday for what the club deemed to be acceptable reasons.

Tom Liberatore is set to step in for injured skipper Marcus Bontempelli on Saturday night.

Meanwhile Fremantle has confirmed classy midfielder Murphy Reid will debut in round 1 against Geelong on Saturday.

The No.17 draft pick was plucked out of Sandringham, having starred for the Dragons in their third-straight Coates Talent League premiership-winning campaign.

As reported by Code Sports, Reid has impressed during his first summer in Western Australia and was given the nod to face the Cats.

He is the fourth confirmed Sandringham Dragons product to debut in round 1, with Tiger duo Harry Armstrong and Luke Trainor playing against Carlton, and Bulldog Josh Dolan named to face North Melbourne.

Murphy Reid will debut for the Dockers. Picture: James Worsfold/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Reid said it was “a dream come true”.

“Being able to do it in Melbourne with so many friends and family who will be able to come down and support me in Geelong, it’s a very surreal feeling,” he said.

“We’ve been doing intraclubs all over summer, but it’s obviously different playing against actual AFL players.

“I was lucky enough to get some midfield time (in the Community Series against Melbourne) against (Christian) Petracca, Clayton Oliver, (Jack) Viney, those kinds of guys.

“It was a great taste of what the weekend is going to be like in a tough opposition in Geelong, but I’m very excited.

DONS SET TO UNVEIL FORWARD LIVEWIRE

Essendon will unveil highly-touted small forward Isaac Kako on Friday night against Hawthorn.

Kako was taken at No.13 in last year’s draft and stunned in the pre-season, kicking four goals against Geelong – which could have been five if not for Sam Draper tapping the ball in the goal square.

The livewire was part of Essendon’s next-generation academy.

Former Lion Jaxon Prior, who was picked up by the Bombers in the SSP, will also play his first game for the club.

Meanwhile Finn O’Sullivan will make his AFL debut in North Melbourne’s season opener at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs.

O’Sullivan arrived at Arden Street in November after being selected with North Melbourne’s first pick and the second overall in the 2024 AFL Draft.

NEW ERA BEGINS AT RICHMOND WITH TRIO TO DEBUT

— Lauren Wood

Number one draft pick Sam Lalor will make his debut for Richmond on Thursday night.

The Tigers confirmed on Monday that Lalor, 18, and fellow debutants Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong will face the Blues.

The trio were told with teammates on Monday afternoon and were quickly afforded time to share the news with their biggest supporters – their parents – via phone in emotional scenes on the balcony at Punt Road Oval.

It comes just weeks after Lalor fractured his jaw in a marking contest in a practice match against West Coast, requiring surgery that saw two of his wisdom teeth removed and a plate inserted.

Harry Armstrong, Sam Lalor and Luke Trainor ahead of their debuts

Tigers coach Adem Yze told the Herald Sun last week that “if it was anyone else it would have meant 12 weeks” on the sidelines but credited Lalor’s professionalism and dedication to ensuring he would be in the frame to play in the team’s season-opening clash.

“There’s a reason why he’s the number one pick, and it’s not just his talent on the field,” Yze said on a recent club podcast.

“He’s just a great character and a great teammate. He’s so diligent. He wants to be the best player he can be, and we’re starting to see that. He hasn’t done a pre-season (previously), he’d normally play cricket in his off-season.

“He’s just done it all on pure talent. He was so unlucky getting hurt when he did but even seeing how quick he’s recovering and responding to that, it’s been enormous.”

Trainor and Armstrong both impressed in recent match simulations to earn their spot.

“Luke hasn’t missed a beat,” Yze told the Herald Sun recently.

Sam Lalor. Picture: Michael Klein

Luke Trainor. Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“His pre-season kind of deserves the opportunity, and we wanted to give him that exposure against Collingwood (in the community series), so we did that and he came on and just fits in nicely.

“To be fair, he has got an experienced back group around him, so it’s a lot easier to throw him in there with the support around him, but we’ve got a younger forward profile.”

Key forward Tom Lynch is also expected to play after he performed strongly in match simulation on Monday after suffering a concussion in a recent practice match.

Originally published as Round 1 debuts: Melbourne will hand out six new jumpers in Sunday’s clash with GWS