MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 16: Josh Daicos of the Magpies warms up prior to the 2017 JLT Community Series match between the Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers at Etihad Stadium on February 16, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Essendon and Port Adelaide will hand two youngsters their first AFL games in big clashes for both clubs in round 22.
Josh Begley will debut for the Bombers against Gold Coast on Saturday night, while Todd Marshall will make his first senior appearance for the Power against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat on Saturday afternoon.
Collingwood have also confirmed the long awaited debut of young forward Josh Daicos.
After being selected with the 57th pick in the 2016 National Draft under the father-son rule, Daicos will finally following in his dad Peter's footsteps on Saturday when he faces Geelong at the MCG.
He has impressed at VFL level over recent weeks, and coach Nathan Buckley said he was "on the cusp" at his regular press conference on Thursday afternoon, before assistant coach Brenton Sanderson confirmed his inclusion on Thursday night.
For the Bombers, Begley was selected with the 31st overall pick in last year's National Draft, and has played 15 games at VFL, playing a mixture of forward and midfield.
The 19-year-old has kicked 18 goals in the reserves so far this season, and Essendon coach John Worsfold told the club's website his pressure around the football is one of his biggest strengths.
“He really hunts the footy, puts a lot of tackling pressure on,” Worsfold told essendonfc.com.au.
“We know he can kick goals and contribute to a forward line that is going to kick goals as well.
“He has been working extremely hard.
“He was good against Box Hill Hawks – the top team in the VFL – last week, so he’s been banging on the door for a while and finally gets his opportunity.”
For Port Adelaide, Marshall is a key forward who impressed in the SANFL last weekend when he kicked five goals, and has 23 majors to his name from his 16 appearances in 2017.
He was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2016 National Draft, and will become the sixth Power player to debut in 2017 along with Sam Powell-Pepper, Dan Houston, Brett Eddy, Aidyn Johnson and Joe Atley.