A WHIRLWIND 12 months for Geelong draftee Tim Kelly will be capped with an AFL debut on Sunday at the MCG.
The 23-year-old midfielder will play against Melbourne less than six months after leaving Perth as an apprentice electrician playing for South Fremantle in the WAFL.
Taken at pick 24 in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, Kelly recently became a father to twin boys, keeping him and partner Caitlin busy with two-year-old son Tykeem.
The mature-age prospect played in Geelong's AFLX campaign and both JLT Community Series matches after averaging 26 disposals per match in the WAFL last season.
Six of the top 10 players selected in last year's NAB AFL Draft will make their debuts in round one, with No.1 pick Cameron Rayner among those whose fate hasn't been announced yet.
Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw (No.2), Carlton young gun Paddy Dow (No.3), North Melbourne hard nut Luke Davies-Uniacke (No.4), Collingwood speedster Jaidyn Stephenson (No.6), skilful Saint Hunter Clark (No.7) and athletic Western Bulldogs defender Aaron Naughton (No.9) have all been confirmed as ins.
It is expected Rayner's fate will be learned when teams are announced at 6.25pm AEDT on Thursday night.
Classy Docker Adam Cerra (No.5), speedy Saint Nick Coffield (No.8) and hard-running Blue Lochie O'Brien (No.10) are the others who were selected in the draft's top 10.
Another high selection, Adelaide forward Darcy Fogarty (No.12), has been named to fill the hole left by captain Taylor Walker, who is dealing with a toe injury.
Creative Melbourne forward Bayley Fritsch (No.31) and hard-working Greater Western Sydney forward Zac Langdon (No.56) will also debut.
The moment Simon Goodwin told Fritsch he was making his debut. Picture: melbournefc.com.au
Crows backman Tom Doedee will finally appear in his third year, slated to fill the role left by Jake Lever, who departed to Melbourne at the end of last season.
Similarly, swift Magpie Sam Murray was also picked up in 2015, by Sydney, and will play in the AFL for the first time when he helps Collingwood take on Hawthorn on Saturday night.
Bailey Banfield will be selected after being picked up by Fremantle as a rookie last year, with his work as a pressure forward impressing the club's coaches.
Essendon will unveil three first-time Bombers: former Bulldog Jake Stringer, ex-GWS forward Devon Smith and Gold Coast recruit Adam Saad.
Moving to North Melbourne has been an early success for Billy Hartung after the former Hawk, delisted at the end of 2017, will be selected to face Gold Coast on Saturday night.
Carlton will unleash recycled recruits Jarrod Garlett (Gold Coast), Matthew Kennedy (Greater Western Sydney) and Aaron Mullett (North Melbourne) against Richmond on Thursday night.
