EXCITING forward Ben Ainsworth will play his first game of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships on Monday after serving his four-week suspension.
The Gippsland Power prospect missed Vic Country's loss to Western Australia last week but has been named to take on Vic Metro on Monday.
After being named an All Australian last year as a bottom-ager, Ainsworth has had a challenging 2016, dealing with wrist and knee injuries before a four-week suspension for two separate incidents.
He missed last week's opening round of the carnival as he completed his ban after the incidents at TAC Cup level, but the possible top-five draft pick will line up for Country in its forward line on Monday.
His inclusion bolsters the Country team, which was disappointing in its 61-point defeat to Western Australia last Sunday at Domain Stadium.
Talented bottom-agers Hunter Clark, Lochie O'Brien and Luke Davies-Uniacke have been added to the squad, while the midfield will again be led by highly rated pair Will Brodie and Hugh McCluggage.
Vic Metro had the bye in the first week of the division one carnival, but will start its campaign with a strong team.
Co-captains Andrew McGrath and Jordan Gallucci will lead the Metro side, while recruiters will be closely assessing Jack Scrimshaw, who shapes as a possible riser up the draft board after an interrupted start to the season through injury.
Collingwood father-son prospect Callum Brown, the son of 1990 premiership star Gavin, has been named in Metro's midfield but fellow Pies' prospect Josh Daicos will not play as he continues his recovery from a hand injury.
Vic Country v Vic Metro
12pm, Monday, June 13
Simonds Stadium
VIC COUNTRY | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
B | 12. Reece Piper | 24. Oscar Clavarino | 33. Braidon Blake | |
HB | 22. Jarrod Berry | 18. Jarrod Korewha | 19. Hunter Clark | |
C | 10. Tom Jok | 7. Will Brodie | 15. Louis Pinnuck | |
HF | 1. Sam Fowler | 38. Shannon Beks | 34. Brett Blair | |
F | 9. Ben Ainsworth | 36. Josh Battle | 2. Tyrone Hayes | |
R | 40. Sean Darcy | 28. Myles Poholke | 17. Hugh McCluggage | |
INT | 32. Will Leslie | 27. Mitch McCarthy | 6. Lochie O'Brien | |
20. Tom Williamson | 29. James Worpel | 5. Willem Drew | ||
25. Luke Davies-Uniacke |
VIC METRO | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
B | 6. Hayden Blythe | 35. Harrison Nolan | 15. Mason Blakey | |
HB | 21. Jack Scrimshaw | 31. Jack Maibaum | 5. Andrew McGrath | |
C | 22. Taylin Duman | 18. Dylan Clarke | 3. Jack Higgins | |
HF | 13. Oliver Florent | 33. Sam McLarty | 24. Tim Taranto | |
F | 28. Jaidyn Stephenson | 32. Karl Brown | 4. Jordan Lynch | |
R | 40. Brock McGregor | 11. Jordan Gallucci | 1. Callum Brown | |
INT | 36. Sam Hayes | 25. Daniel Venables | 14. Hamish Brayshaw | |
37. Nick Larkey | 17. Joel Garner | 23. Callum Searle | ||
9. Luke Bunker |