PORT Adelaide is expected to hand a debut to 18-year-old tall forward Todd Marshall in Saturday's crucial encounter with the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.
The No. 16 pick in last year's NAB AFL Draft, the 198cm Marshall rocketed into calculations for a senior appearance on the back of booting five goals in the SANFL last weekend.
Marshall has kicked 23 goals in 16 games for the Port Adelaide Magpies this year.
He will give the Power another key target in attack alongside power forward Charlie Dixon and will help stretch the Bulldogs' defence.
Hailing from near the NSW country town of Deniliquin, Marshall played representative cricket for Australian under-age teams before switching his focus to Australian football last year.
He impressed as a strong marking, agile forward for NSW/ACT at the under-18 national championships.
Marshall is likely to become the sixth player to debut for the Power this season after NAB AFL Rising Star nominees Sam Powell-Pepper and Dan Houston, mature-aged recruit Brett Eddy, exciting forward Aidyn Johnson and midfielder Joe Atley.
The historic premiership game at Mars Stadium is of vital importance to both clubs – the Power are sixth on the ladder on 48 points, with the Bulldogs sitting ninth on 44.
