A HOST of returnees and a chance against the best in the VFL competition presents an exciting Sunday for the Northern Blues.

After last week’s bye, the Blues are back in action as they take on the ladder-leading Richmond at the Swinburne Centre (Punt Road Oval).

Northern welcomed back some key AFL-listed talent and experience in yesterday’s Bertocchi 23 announcement, with nine inclusions to the squad.

Among them are five players from Carlton who have been out through injury: that includes Cillian McDaid, Jarrod Pickett and Alex Silvagni in their first home-and-away games of 2018.

While losing Nick Graham to AFL selection, the Blues will be hopeful that Matthew Kennedy and Andrew Phillips can fill the void in midfield alongside Tom Wilson.

Pickett will be joined by Kym Lebois as the spark in the forward line, as well as fellow inclusion Jarrod Garlett.

Punt Road hasn’t been a happy stomping ground for the Blues in previous years, with their last in-season triumph coming four years ago.

The pace of Richmond has been integral to the continuation of their success this year, topping the table mid-season after making the grand final last year.

Shai Bolton, Tyson Stengle and Jacob Townsend are all named to feature for the Tigers, while Anthony Miles will provide the grunt in the middle of the ground.

Daniel Rioli is out of the Richmond VFL side: he’s been named to return at senior level for the first time in 2018.

After fielding such young squads in the opening half of the year, the Blues will call on Aaron Mullett, Cameron O’Shea and Alex Silvagni to join Tom Wilson in providing leadership on-field.

With goals in all bar one of his last six games, Jesse Palmer will be hoping to continue his goal-scoring form alongside impressive Carlton youngster Tom De Koning.

The game begins at 12pm.

There will be no live stream of the game.

MATCH DETAILS
Round 11 VFL
Richmond vs. Northern Blues
Swinburne Centre (Punt Road Oval)
Sunday, June 17 — 12pm

ENTRY
Adults — $10
Concession — $5
Children under-15 — Free entry
Northern Blues members — Half-priced entry