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Eagles' Reid named among AFL debutants in round one

3 minute read

Brownlow medallists Lachie Neale and Tom Mitchell have been sidelined, while a handful of top-10 draft picks will make their first AFL appearance in round one.

Harley Reid.
Harley Reid.

West Coast's Harley Reid headlines a group of five top-10 draft picks poised to make their AFL debut in round one, while the Brisbane Lions have lost Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale to injury.

The highly sought-after top selection last year, 18-year-old Reid has been named in the Eagles' starting on-ball unit for their away clash with Port Adelaide on Sunday.

North Melbourne duo Colby McKercher (pick two) and Zane Duursma (four) will debut against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, while Hawthorn's Nick Watson (five) will line up for his side's clash with Essendon.

Tasmanian product Ryley Sanders (six) has been named in the Western Bulldogs side to face Melbourne on Sunday after an impressive pre-season build-up.

No.7 pick Caleb Windsor made his debut for the Demons during the opening-round defeat to Sydney and has held his spot in the team.

The Swans have named an unchanged line-up for Friday night's blockbuster clash with Collingwood, who have regained important defender Jeremy Howe from injury after a shock season-opening thumping from GWS.

Magpies ball-winner Tom Mitchell has been managed after just one game and was named as an emergency.

Brisbane suffered a huge blow when they lost playmaker Keidean Coleman to a season-ending knee injury during their opening-round loss to Carlton and will also be without co-captain Neale this week.

Neale (hamstring tightness) will miss Sunday's clash with his former club Fremantle at Optus Stadium, while Conor McKenna returns to replace Coleman at half-back.

St Kilda have named first-round draft picks Darcy Wilson (18) and Lance Collard (28) to debut against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, where the Cats will hand mature-age draftee Shaun Mannagh his first game.

Gold Coast are unchanged after their opening-round win over Richmond, facing an Adelaide side that has picked ex-Sun Chris Burgess in a forward line missing injured pair Taylor Walker and Riley Thilthorpe.

North Melbourne will have five new faces against GWS, with Toby Pink to make his long-awaited debut alongside McKercher and Duursma - seven years after he first joined an AFL list.

Trade acquisitions Zac Fisher and Dylan Stephens will also line up for the Kangaroos for the first time.

Ex-Roos Ben McKay and Todd Goldstein join Xavier Duursma (from Port Adelaide) and Jade Gresham (St Kilda) as Essendon's new faces against Hawthorn, while emerging defender Zach Reid will play his first game since 2022.

Goldstein will be the Bombers' sole ruckman, edging out cult hero Sam Draper at selection, while gun on-baller Darcy Parish (hamstring) is out.

Forward Jack Gunston will play his first game for Hawthorn in 573 days, following a stint at Brisbane.

Off-season recruits Mabior Chol (Gold Coast), Jack Ginnivan (Collingwood) and former Bomber Massimo D'Ambrosio will line up in brown and gold for the first time.

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