DANIEL McKenzie will debut on Sunday against Essendon.
The 18-year-old will be the fourth Saint to make their debut in 2015, following Jack Lonie and Jack Sinclair in round one and Paddy McCartin in round three.
He will also be the 18th player to debut since the start of 2013 and the ninth since round one, 2014 - demonstrating the club’s on-field regeneration and groundswell of young talent.
McKenzie is one of five inclusions for the game, with Jimmy Webster returning from a broken finger and Maverick Weller from a strained calf.
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Blake Acres and ruckman Tom Hickey have also been selected and will play their first senior games for the season.
Paddy McCartin, Cameron Shenton, Tom Curren, Nathan Wright and Ahmed Saad have all been omitted, with McCartin, Shenton and Curren named as emergencies.
McKenzie has been selected in the forward pocket following his 26-disposal effort in the VFL last Sunday, but will spend more time further afield this weekend according to Alan Richardson.
“Dan is a real goer,” Richardson told SAINTS.com.au.
“He is a very gifted athlete and has a great combination of speed and endurance. He is able to play a number of positions but this weekend he will predominantly play wing and defence.
“He’s tough, he loves to tackle and chase and rates the defensive side of the game. His form has been strong.”
VIDEO: Daniel McKenzie behind the guernsey
One player who will undoubtedly add a touch of polish to St Kilda's team is Jimmy Webster.
The left-footer spent two weeks in the VFL following a finger operation that sidelined him for seven weeks after the intra club.
He collected 23 disposals and laid seven tackles for Sandringham last week.
“Given his issue was a hand issue, he has been able to run the whole way through his rehab,” Richardson said.
“We just needed to see that his touch, physicality and ability to play on his man were all back.
“He’s very important for us because he’s such a good kick from defence. It was pretty clear that that was an area that let us down last week.”
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Daniel McKenzie boasts a penetrating left foot. (Photo: Dave Savell)
Hickey’s inclusion will more than likely reduce Josh Bruce’s ruck role. The 24-year-old left footer has been working on his craft in the VFL this season, but will get a chance to partner in-form ruckman Billy Longer on Sunday for the first time at AFL level.
“Tom will play forward/ruck,” Richardson said.
“His form has been strong in the VFL and he played last week as a permanent forward, and while he didn’t have a great day in terms of hitting the scoreboard, we thought his contest was really good.
“He’s a young man that has not been able to get into the team as a ruckman, given the positive form of Billy Longer as a ruckman. But he will get his chance on Sunday.”
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Following three senior games in 2014, Acres has forced his way back into Richardson’s best 22 and will be one of 10 Saints to have played 30 or less AFL matches heading into round five.
“Blake has had a couple of challenging trips where he has had to travel with the team and then come back when the ball has been bounced and play VFL,” Richardson said.
“He’s done it in the way that we hope blokes do it, in that he has embraced being around the team and gone back and played strong footy for Sandringham. He will play a balance of midfield and back.”
With Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna injured, this week’s line-up has an exciting sense of youth about it.
The forward line in particular is a window into the future, with less than 80 games between the six starting forwards.
Sandringham will also play on Sunday, against Northern Blues at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
VFL preview: Round two
B: Geary Delaney Dempster
HB: Newnes Fisher Savage
C: Roberton Armitage Sinclair
HF: Billings Bruce Dunstan
F: Lonie Membrey McKenzie
FOLL: Longer Weller Steven
I/C: Hickey, Acres, Schneider, Webster
EMERG: Curren, McCartin, Shenton
IN: Weller, Webster, Hickey, Acres, McKenzie
OUT: Wright, Saad, Shenton, Curren, McCartin
NEW: McKenzie
