JUST when it seemed North Ballarat Roosters might finally meet Big O again, he has dodged their looming Sunday showdown.
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Orren Stephenson has been promoted for Richmond’s AFL clash with Hawthorn tomorrow, confirmed in selections last night.
He has been in strong form for the Tigers’ affiliate Coburg in the Victorian Football League but with Ivan Maric solid in the Richmond ruck, a call-up looked tough.
The 31-year-old instead steps up for Tigers’ tall Ty Vickery, who is sidelined with concussion.
Stephenson, a triple Roosters premiership player, has not faced the Roosters since he was drafted to Geelong in 2011, missing two potential chances last year before he transferred to Punt Road.
This is the Roosters sole clash with Coburg in the home-and-away season.
The Roosters will, however, meet former premiership player and North Melbourne-listed Aaron Edwards for the first time.
A key goalkicker and leader up forward, Edwards was traded to the Tigers after last season.
The Roosters will regain North Melbourne rookie Max Warren to the backlines this week.
Warren has been recovering from surgery on a broken collarbone since late June.
It is a timely return for the Roosters, who will lose influential key defender Luke Delaney to AFL ranks this week.
Delaney, who has held the key lock-down role and has been a match saviour this season, has been promoted with fellow defender Ben Jacobs for the Kangaroos.
The Roosters have called on James Keeble and ruck option Sam Conroy to step up to the seniors.
But the responsibility to fill Delaney’s role could fall to emerging tall Bryce Curnow, who was solid in the backlines against Werribee last week, allowing captain Michael Searl more time to play a key marking role up forward.
First-year Rooster Tony Lockyer has been named for his third game as 23rd man, replacing Lachlan Cassidy who returns to North Ballarat Rebels.
Meanwhile, scans earlier this week cleared Rooster Matt Austin of serious shoulder damage.
Austin, who sustained the injury early in the first quarter last week, remains sidelined with soreness.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
