The Northern Blues will take a youthful line-up into their final game of the 2016 season on Saturday against Essendon.
The Blues have named 15 players with less than 20 games of senior VFL experience in their team, and only five players with an AFL game under their belt.
Northern has regained the experience of Andrejs Everitt for Saturday’s match, which sees its opponent Essendon needing a win to cement a top-eight spot.
Everitt is joined by Northern-listed Ben Casley, James Corboy, Jayden Cyster, Chris McCabe and Dyson Stevens into the 27-man squad.
Cyster is confirmed to be making his debut as 23rd man, while he could be joined by potential first-gamer Corboy depending on final selection on game day.
Tim Totevski comes out from last week’s side after his unfortunate ACL rupture, while Mason Blakey will return to the Northern Knights side for the last TAC Cup match of their campaign.
Carlton’s Kristian Jaksch and Harry McKay have been named to take up the key position forward posts for the Blues, alongside the retuning Casley and Everitt.
The majority of Northern’s experience comes in the midfield, with Tom Wilson and Jason Tutt to play pivotal roles in the clinches against a Bombers side with everything to play for.
The Northern Blues' team to take on Essendon. (Graphic by the Northern Blues)
Jayden Foster, Jesse Glass-McCasker and Bailey Jordan reprise their roles down back, while ever-present stoppers Bill Gowers and Sam Russell have both been named.
Cameron Wood will battle it out in the ruck against Mark Jamar for the Bombers, who has been recalled to the VFL line-up.
Blaine Boekhorst, Matthew Korcheck and Dillon Viojo-Rainbow round out the 11 AFL-listed players named, while Essendon has lost Shaun McKernan and Nick Kommer to AFL selection.
Saturday’s Round 21 VFL contest begins at 11am from Windy Hill, with Saturday providing a double-header of the Blues against the Bombers. The match is free entry for all supporters as Northern looks to end its 2016 season in style.
