AFL Teams Round 17: Footy legend tells son ‘you’re going to play’

An AFL legend has told his son he would be making his debut this weekend in emotional scenes at before Kangaroos training.

Cooper Harvey will make his AFL debut this week.

North Melbourne father-son selection Cooper Harvey will make his AFL debut this week, informed of the news by his father, Kangaroos great Brent Harvey.

Harvey was taken with pick No.56 in the 2022 national draft and has been plying his trade in the VFL, with a five-goal haul against Williamstown last weekend paving the way for his selection.

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

The club released vision of Brent Harvey - who works at the club - informing his son of the news.

“Make sure you train well, because you’re gonna play this week. Ratts told me just then. He said ‘go tell Cooper, make sure he trains well because he’s gonna play’.”

Harvey played 432 senior games for North Melbourne between 1996 and 2016 and holds the all-time record for games played at senior level.

“I haven’t told Mum or anything, so you can tell,” Harvey told his son, before adding: “Lucky I didn’t have to do that in front of the boys, I started tearing up a little bit.”

Cooper Harvey will make his AFL debut this week.

Cooper Harvey will make his AFL debut this week.

Richmond interim coach Andrew McQualter has made sweeping changes after his side’s capitulation to Brisbane last week.

Four have been dropped while Jayden Short misses through injury for the Tigers’ mini elimination final against Sydney on Thursday night.

Dion Prestia, Dustin Martin and Maurice Rioli Jr all return while as revealed earlier in the week, Jacob Bauer and Sam Banks will each make their AFL debut at the MCG.

Noah Cumberland, Samson Ryan, Judson Clarke and Jack Ross have all been omitted, the latter two listed as emergencies alongside last week’s sub Hugo Ralphsmith and Ivan Soldo.

At Sydney, Lance Franklin returns for what’s expected to be his final game at the MCG - unless his side makes a surprising run into the finals - along with the long-awaited return of defender Tom McCartin from a prolonged concussion battle.

In direct swaps young forward Joel Amartey has been omitted along with ex-Bombers backman Aaron Francis, while last week’s sub Ryan Clarke goes out of the squad entirely.

With both sides sitting in the bottom six with 6-8-1 records, Thursday night’s loser will need to almost run the table for the rest of 2023 to play finals.

The line-ups for the rest of Round 17’s games will be announced on Thursday evening.

AFL ROUND 17 TEAMS AND FIXTURE (All times AEST)

RICHMOND v SYDNEY SWANS

Thursday July 6, 7:20pm at the MCG

TIGERS

B: N.Balta, D.Grimes - C, T.Young

HB: D.Rioli, N.Vlastuin, N.Broad

C: K.McIntosh, T.Taranto, M.Pickett

HF: D.Prestia, L.Baker, J.Graham

F: J.Bauer, J.Riewoldt, D.Martin

FOLL: T.Nankervis, T.Cotchin, S.Bolton

I/C: S.Banks, J.Hopper, B.Miller, M.Rioli

EMG: H.Ralphsmith, J.Ross, J.Clarke, I.Soldo

In: D.Prestia, J.Bauer, D.Martin, S.Banks, M.Rioli

Out: N.Cumberland (Omitted), S.Ryan (Omitted), J.Clarke (Omitted), J.Ross (Omitted), J.Short (Injured), H.Ralphsmith (Sub)

SWANS

B: H.Cunningham, L.Melican, D.Rampe

HB: J.Lloyd, O.Florent, N.Blakey

C: E.Gulden, J.Rowbottom, B.Campbell

HF: H.McLean, L.McDonald, W.Hayward

F: I.Heeney, L.Franklin, T.Papley

FOLL: T.Hickey, L.Parker - C, C.Mills

I/C: T.McCartin, A.Sheldrick, R.Fox, J.McInerney

EMG: S.Wicks, A.Francis, L.McAndrew, Co.Warner

In: L.Franklin, T.McCartin

Out: J.Amartey (Managed), A.Francis (Omitted), R.Clarke (Sub)

WESTERN BULLDOGS v COLLINGWOOD

Friday July 7, 7:50pm at Marvel Stadium

BULLDOGS

TBA Thursday evening

MAGPIES

TBA Thursday evening

BRISBANE LIONS v WEST COAST EAGLES

Saturday July 8, 1:45pm at the Gabba

LIONS

TBA Thursday evening

EAGLES

TBA Thursday evening

GWS GIANTS v HAWTHORN

Saturday July 8, 1:45pm at the Gabba

GIANTS

TBA Thursday evening

HAWKS

TBA Thursday evening

ST KILDA v MELBOURNE

Saturday July 8, 7:25pm at Marvel Stadium

SAINTS

TBA Thursday evening

DEMONS

TBA Thursday evening

PORT ADELAIDE v GOLD COAST SUNS

Saturday July 8, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

TBA Thursday evening

SUNS

TBA Thursday evening

GEELONG v NORTH MELBOURNE

Sunday July 9, 1:10pm at GMHBA Stadium

CATS

TBA Thursday evening

KANGAROOS

TBA Thursday evening

ESSENDON v ADELAIDE CROWS

Sunday July 9, 3:20pm at Marvel Stadium

BOMBERS

TBA Thursday evening

CROWS

TBA Thursday evening

FREMANTLE v CARLTON

Sunday July 9, 4:40pm at Optus Stadium

DOCKERS

TBA Thursday evening

BLUES

TBA Thursday evening

Originally published as AFL Teams Round 17: Footy legend tells son ‘you’re going to play’