AFL teams: Tiger handed dream home state debut
Richmond has named first-year midfielder Kane McAuliffe for a dream AFL debut in his home state against St Kilda at Norwood on Sunday.
Tigers coach Adem Yze said the South Australian left-footer had been “knocking the door down” to play after he began the VFL season with consecutive 30-disposal games.
McAuliffe, 19, was taken with pick 40 in last year’s draft and immediately impressed teammates over summer with his fierce attack on the ball and power out of stoppages.
“He’s a quality kid, he’s in really good form as an inside mid,” Yze said on Friday.
“He’s been knocking the door down for the last couple of weeks.”
McAuliffe, Tyler Sonsie or Jack Graham is set to be Richmond’s sub against St Kilda, with Sam Banks dropped from the side.
Sam Naismith was named as an emergency with Jacob Koschitzke earning the nod to replace Tom Lynch at full-forward.
The Saints kept Anthony Caminiti in their team despite the return of Max King, with a taller forward line set to play at Norwood.
Rebounding defender Angus Hastie will play his second game after he made his debut as the sub against Essendon.
GWS Giants v Gold Coast, Adelaide Hills 12.00PM
GIANTS
NO CHANGES
SUNS
IN Andrew, Clohesy, Rosas, Witts, Humphrey, Read, Graham
OUT Budarick, Ellis, Casboult, Long, Moyle, Sexton, Atkins (all omitted)
NEW Clohesy, Read, Graham
Richmond v St Kilda, Norwood Oval 2.50PM
TIGERS
IN Martin, Graham, Koschitzke, McAuliffe
OUT Balta (knee), Lynch (hamstring), Baker (suspension), Banks (omitted)
NEW McAuliffe
SAINTS
IN King
OUT Windhager (suspension)
Collingwood v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval 4.40PM
MAGPIES
IN Sidebottom
OUT Macrae (omitted)
HAWKS
IN Butler, Ramsden, Maginness, Mitchell
OUT Breust (groin), Lewis (hamstring), Watson (ankle), Morrison (omitted)
Gold Coast made a seventh change to its side to face an unchanged GWS at Adelaide Hills with Rory Atkins also dropped following six previous confirmed omissions.
Bailey Humphrey (shoulder/ribs) has been cleared to return from a training track injury alongside captain Jarrod Witts (groin).
Finlay Macrae was the Collingwood midfielder to make way for Steele Sidebottom after a quiet performance against Brisbane last week, while Hawthorn all but confirmed a rematch between tagger Finn Maginness and Nick Daicos as he returned to the side along with forward-ruck Max Ramsden and smalls Sam Butler and Seamus Mitchell.
