NORTH Melbourne-listed defender Cam Delaney makes his first appearance of the year for North Ballarat in the VFL in Ballarat on Saturday.
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He has been out all season with a foot issue.
Delaney, who turns 22 on Thursday, will be eased back against Casey Scorpions at Eureka Stadium.
Selkirk Roosters football manager Marg Richards said Delaney would play about 60 per cent of match time.
Delaney has been frustrated by injury since making his only appearance for North Melbourne last season in round 18 – injuring a toe, which went on hamper his pre-season.
With just the six AFL games under his belt since being drafted by the Kangaroos, Delaney has been a regular with North Ballarat and will be a welcome addition as it strives for a fifth win on end.
The Roosters’ defence has stood firm through this sequence, with winnings margins including two points over Footscray Bulldogs, five points over Frankston and two points over Box Hill Hawks.
Delaney’s presence as a key defender will bolster the back end even further as eighth-placed North Ballarat looks to consolidate its position in the top eight.
James Keeble will also return after missing the Box Hill victory with hamstring soreness.
Richards said Keeble had been rested as a precautionary measure.
First-year players James Tsitas and Michael Powell have been dropped.
Tom Carey is the 23rd player for their final match.
A late addition to the Roosters’ list, Powell returns to Sebastopol in the Ballarat Football League after two VFL games.
The Melbourne-aligned Casey, which has won three games, sits 13th.
Casey has regained Jay Kennedy-Harris, who was Melbourne’s substitute against Collingwood on Monday.
david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au