CALLUM Currie will make his senior debut with North Ballarat against VFL giant Williamstown in Ballarat tomorrow.
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Currie gets his opportunity in his second season on the Selkirk Roosters' senior list. North Ballarat head coach Gerard FitzGerald last night gave Currie the nod under the 23rd player rule. He steps up as the fifth man on interchange after Coleman Schache filled the role for the opening three rounds. Currie's selection is possible under changes to the rule, which was previously restricted to existing TAC Cup players or first-year players out of the under-18 competition.
VFL clubs can this season promote second-year players on the condition they have not played a senior game and played in the TAC Cup.
Currie was runner-up in the North Ballarat Rebels best and fairest in 2010, but was unable to force his way into the Roosters' senior line-up last season.
Despite no longer being eligible to play as the designated 23rd player, Schache remains in the Roosters' expanded squad for the clash with the Western Bulldogs-aligned Williamstown.
Although more naturally an inside midfielder, Schache has impressed as a high forward beside the likes of Aaron Black, Paul McMahon and Michael Searl, and is a chance to retain his place in the line-up.
Outside the inclusion of Currie, the loss of key defender Luke Delaney to North Melbourne and return of Kangaroos youngster Brad McKenzie are the only confirmed changes for the match in which North Ballarat is striving to square its ledger and take its season record to two wins from four rounds. McKenzie missed the Roosters' win over Collingwood, with the youngster travelling with North Melbourne to Hobart as an emergency.
Other changes will largely be dictated by North Melbourne selection choices for its encounter with Geelong on Sunday. Cameron Delaney, Ben Cunnington, Aaron Mullett and Aaron Edwards feature in both the Kangaroos' and Roosters' extended squads. North Ballarat has also added Daniel Jones, Sam Conroy and Levi Dare from its own ranks.