NORTH Melbourne rookie Max Warren will make his AFL debut after more than two seasons with North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL.
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He has been upgraded to the Kangaroos’ senior list to replace Joel Tippet, who is on the long-term injury list.
He will line up against the Brisbane Lions in Brisbane on Saturday night.
Warren, 21, has played in all the Selkirk Roosters’ 10 matches this season, which feature six wins in a row going into Saturday’s clash with the Footscray Bulldogs at Geelong’s Simonds Stadium.
Drafted from Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup, Warren began with North Ballarat in the AFL development league in 2012 before graduating to senior ranks.
He has gone on to play 35 VFL games.
“It just sort of came out of the blue. I got elevated just at the start of training and thought, wow this is all happening,” Warren said of the news of his selection.
North Ballarat has also lost Liam Anthony to North Melbourne.
He has been named as a wtravelling emergency. Chris Giampaolo is also unavailable for the Roosters.
North Melbourne youngster Trent Dumont returns after being on standby for the Kangaroos against Melbourne on Sunday night, while James Tsitas and Callum Currie have been recalled.
This will be North Ballarat’s second encounter with the Bulldogs this season.
The Roosters defeated Footscray – which is in its first season in the VFL as a stand-alone team – by two points in round five. That was their first win of the year after four losses.
North Ballarat has not lost since and sits sixth. Despite the sequence, North Ballarat is just half a game inside the top eight, highlighting the need to keep winning.
Footscray is third, one win better off. Another win will have the Roosters within percentage of a spot in the all-important top four.
david.brehaut@fairfaxmedia.com.au
