Potential Pick 1 selection Finn O'Sullivan will make his return from a recent thumb injury in Saturday's clash between the AFL Academy and VFl side Footscray.

O'Sullivan suffered a fractured thumb in his first game for the Oakleigh Chargers in the Talent League this season, with the ailment having since kept the exciting teenager out of action.

After missing the AFL Academy's first game of 2024 two weeks ago against Coburg, the highly-rated ball winner will slot into Tarkyn Lockyer's side for their bout with the Bulldogs at Whitten Oval this weekend.

O'Sullivan, who is one of several leading candidates to be taken first overall at the National Draft in November, will be joined by Bendigo forward Archer Day-Wicks, Greater Western Victoria midfielder Sam Lalor and Western Australian pair Bo Allan and Malakai Champion in returning from injury for Sunday's game.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 11: Finn O'Sullivan of Victoria Country in action during the 2022 National Development Championships U16 Boys match between Vic Metro and Vic Country at Ikon Park on June 11, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

Murray Bushrangers backman Matt Whitlock has been called up to the AFL Academy. At the same time, his brother Jack, Taj Hotton, Jordan Nguyen and Tobie Travaglia make way after being injury replacements for the game against Coburg.

AFL Academy members Sid Draper, Jonty Faull and Noah Mraz remained sidelined through injury.

The AFL Academy will look to bounce back from their 27-point defeat to the Lions at IKON Park earlier this month - an outing that saw a number of promising draft stars prove their value.

Sandringham Dragons defender Luke Trainor was named best-afield for the Academy in the loss, while teammate and Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft led the game for disposals with 33 touches, as well as fiveย clearances, five inside 50s and a goal.

The inclusions of O'Sullivan and Lalor further strengthen the squad's dazzling pool of midfielders, with Ashcrfot, Camporeale brothers Ben and Lucas, Leonardo Lombard, Josh Smillie, Christian Moraes and Tom Gross all likely to get a look through the middle on Sunday.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 13: Josh Smillie of the AFL Academy in action during the 2024 AFL Academy match between the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys and Coburg Lions at Ikon Park on April 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

The game against Footscray will take place at 11:00am (AEST) on Saturday at Whitten Oval.

AFL Academy squad vs Footscray

FIRST NAME SURNAME HEIGHT STATE LEAGUE CLUB
COMMUNITY CLUB
Sid Draper 182 South Adelaide Willunga
Levi Ashcroft 179 Sandringham Dragons
Old Brighton Grammarians
Ben Camporeale 186 Glenelg
Brighton Districts &
Old Scholars
Lucas Camporeale 185 Glenelg
Brighton Districts &
Old Scholars
Malakai Champion 172 Subiaco Mines Rovers
Archer Day-Wicks 186 Bendigo Pioneers Sandhurst
Xavier Lindsay 183 Gippsland Power Leongatha
Leonardo Lombard 178 Gold Coast Suns Academy Broadbeach
Sam Marshall 185 Brisbane Lions Academy
Sandringham Dragons
Old Melburnians
Ricky Mentha 178 Northern Territory Academy
Gippsland Power		 Morwell
Christian Moraes 183 Eastern Ranges Knox
Jagga Smith 181 Oakleigh Chargers Richmond
Bo Allan 191 Peel Thunder Halls Head
Joel Cochran 195 Sydney Swans Academy
UNSW Eastern Suburbs
Bulldogs
Jonty Faull 195 GWV Rebels Redan
Tom Gross 181 Oakleigh Chargers
Old Trinity Grammarians
Harvey Langford 190 Dandenong Stingrays Mount Martha
Noah Mraz 198 Dandenong Stingrays
Narre North Foxes
Harry O'Farrell 196 Calder Cannons
Maribyrnong Park
Finn O'Sullivan 182 Oakleigh Chargers Koroit
Jobe Shanahan 194 Bendigo Pioneers Moama
Josh Smillie 194 Eastern Ranges Park Orchards
Luke Trainor 194 Sandringham Dragons
Old Brighton Grammarians
Oliver Dean 201 Tasmania Devils
North Launceston
Sam Lalor 180 GWV Rebels
Bacchus Marsh
Matt Whitlock 199 Murray Bushrangers Shepparton
Tyler Welsh 191 Adelaide Henley

*Denotes injured and won't play