THE Northern Blues will call on their VFL-listed talent when it heads to Adcon Stadium to take on Port Melbourne this Saturday.
All seven inclusions which Northern has named in its extended squad feature from the VFL list, ahead of a tricky assignment against the Borough.
The Blues know full well the perils of taking on Port Melbourne, having had to endure a nine-year barren run against the traditional VFL club.
The likes of Frank Anderson and Ethan Penrith could return to the line-up, having overcome injury troubles after starting the season in the VFL side.
Anderson has dealt with illness and a slight shoulder injury in recent weeks, while Penrith returns for his first game since Round 2.
The duo are joined by Kane Keppel, Jordan Lynch, Marcus Stavrou, Glenn Strachan and Noah Wheeler as the potential inclusions.
Youngster Jarrod Walters – formerly of the Geelong Falcons and Colac – is confirmed to make his debut, named in the side as 23rd man.
The Blues will be without a host of AFL experience for a variety of reasons, with Hugh Goddard called up for AFL selection while Andrew Phillips has been suspended.
Finbar O’Dwyer has been managed, while VFL-listed leader Alex Johnson will miss with a groin strain picked up against Casey last weekend.
Oscar White has been omitted.
The responsibility will shift to the likes of Josh Deluca and Alex Fasolo, who starred against the Demons last weekend. Both are expected to feature heavily in the midfield as they have in recent weeks, with the likes of Matthew Kennedy, Darcy Lang and Jack Silvagni all featuring at AFL level.
Saturday’s game begins at 2pm.
In: Anderson, Keppel, Lynch, Penrith, Stavrou, Strachan, Wheeler, Walters
Out: Goddard (AFL selection), Johnson (groin), O’Dwyer (managed), Phillips (suspension), White
