MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 10: Bailey Laurie, draft selection #22 for the Demons poses for a photo during the NAB AFL Draft media opportunity at Marvel Stadium on December 10, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Demons Judd McVee and Bailey Laurie will make their AFL debuts for Melbourne in Round 1 this weekend, while Essendon father-son draftee Alwyn Davey Jr. will make his maiden senior appearance for the Bombers.
McVee, a 19-year-old utility from East Fremantle, appears a like-for-like replacement for the injured Christian Salem across half-back as Melbourne prepares to go into battle against the Western Bulldogs.
Laurie, meanwhile, plies his trade as a midfielder-forward, with the 20-year-old likely to support the Dees' forward brigade after coach Simon Goodwin this morning announced that noted goal-kicker Bayley Fritsch would miss this weekend's clash with the Bulldogs due to injury.
Davey, meantime, will suit up for the Bombers in their clash with Hawthorn this Sunday, following in the footsteps of his father, who played 100 AFL games between 2007 and 2013.
The remainder of Melbourne and Essendon's Round 1 squads are set to be announced on Thursday evening.
The Dees will play the Bulldogs on Saturday, March 18 (7:25 PM AEDT), while the Bombers' clash with the Hawks will take place on Sunday, March 19 (3:20 PM AEDT).