Mitch Duncan will make his AFL debut, Josh Hunt will play his first AFL game since the 2008 grand final and Joel Corey will wear the navy and white hoops for the 200th time when the Cats tackle Essendon in round one.

Corey, who required minor surgery after the opening NAB Cup game, has been past fit and will be just the 26th player to reach the 200 game milestone.

Duncan, like Corey recruited from East Perth, impressed through the practice games and has been named on the bench.

Hunt ruptured his ACL in the 2009 NAB Cup grand final and has come through his rehabilitation unscathed.

To know more about team selection, watch Neil Balme on Cats TV in MATCH COMMITTEE, a weekly look at the ins and outs at Skilled Stadium.

Geelong’s team to face Essendon:

B: Josh Hunt - Matthew Scarlett - Harry Taylor
HB: Corey Enright - Tom Lonergan - Andrew Mackie
C: James Kelly - Jimmy Bartel - Joel Corey
HF: Steve Johnson - Tom Hawkins - Paul Chapman
F: Gary Ablett - Cameron Mooney - Shannon Byrnes
Foll: Brad Ottens - Cameron Ling - Joel Selwood
Int: Mark Blake, Mitch Duncan, Darren Milburn, David Wojcinski
Emerg: James Podsiadly, Steve Motlop, Nathan Djerrkura