Sydney has named its two mid-season additions, while a highly-fancied St Kilda draftee will play for the first time in 2023 when the Swans and Sandringham meet in Round 12 of the Smithy’s VFL on Friday.

Olli Hotton, St Kilda’s No. 35 pick from the 2022 AFL Draft, will make his long-awaited next step towards an AFL debut when he lines up for his Smithy’s VFL debut against winless Sydney Swans at Tramway Oval from 1:05pm.

The classy mid-forward from Hampton Rovers via Sandringham Dragons missed the first half of the season with a back injury but has finally been named to play his first game when the Zebras take on the Swans.

Hotton won’t be the only avenue of intrigue in the game, with the Swans to unveil both their AFL Mid-Season Rookie draft selections in Brisbane Lions VFL key defender Harry Arnold and Claremont WAFL key forward Jack Buller.

With ruckman Lachlan McAndrew returning from a three-week debut stint in the AFL, the Swans team takes on a whole new look with three talls coming into the team, alongside a third debutant in Sydney University youngster Riley Fitzroy and UNSW-Eastern Suburbs defender Jake Brown.

Promoted inside-mid Gus Sheldrick is the only AFL-listed player going out of the Swans team thrashed by Carlton a fortnight ago.

The Zebras’ forward line also looks healthy, with Beaumaris’ Matt Harms called up for only his second VFL game after kicking four goals on debut against Williamstown in Round 22 last year, while Tim Membrey, Isaac Keeler and Noah Gown will also cause headaches for the Sydney defence.

Ben Paton and Cooper Sharman have been dropped by the Saints, but Sandringham did take a triple hit at selection, with brilliant youngster Marcus Windhager finally called back to the AFL and Jack Billings and Jack Bytel sidelined.

All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website and AFL Live Official App.

Smithy’s VFL broadcast partner, the Seven Network, will show one weekly game live and free on the Seven Network in Victoria and on 7Plus nationally. This week’s game will be Carlton vs Essendon.

SYDNEY SWANS vs SANDRINGHAM

Friday 9 June, 1:05pm, Tramway Oval
Head-to-head: Sydney 1-0. At Tramway Oval: Sydney 1-0. Streak: Sydney 1

SYDNEY SWANS
B: W. Edwards (28), W. Gould (17), J. Brown (50)
HB: L. Rankin (41), T. Longmire (58), H. Arnold (38)
C: C. Vickery (25), C. Mitchell (35), J. Endemann (59)
HF: J. Magor (32), H. Hall-Kahan (45), J. Buller (47)
F: J. Konstanty (18), C. Owen (40), M. Geddes (61)
R: L. McAndrew (46), C. Warner (37), D. Stephens (3)
INT: Ham Morrison (66), R. Fitzroy (68), J. Bartholomaeus (53), J. Tidemann (65)*, Har Morrison (55)
EMG: T. Howard (56), J. Crocker (54), M. Velthuis (60), C. Webster (62)

IN: H. Arnold, J. Brown, J. Buller, R. Fitzroy, M.Geddes, L. McAndrew
OUT: A. Sheldrick (AFL), J. Crocker, O. Davis, C. Haley, M. Velthuis, C. Webster
NEW: Harry Arnold, 24, Brisbane Lions VFL; Jack Buller, 22, Claremont; Riley Fitzroy, 20, Sydney University

SANDRINGHAM
B: J. Van Es (31), T. Highmore (34), O. Adams (26)
HB: A. Seaton (50), T. Milne (61), Z. Cordy (21)
C: T. Owens (55), L. Connolly (37), V. Zagari (58)
HF: B. Watson (70), J. Peris (45), O. Hotton (39)
F: N. Gown (65), I. Keeler (40), S. Latreille (67)
R: M. Heath (42), D. Hipwell (51), O. Lowe (59)
INT: T. Campbell (38), M. Harms (60)*, B. Paton (33), T. Membrey (28), C. Sharman (43)
EMG: T. Blamires (76), R. Virtue (53), W. Dunne (79), P. Moi Moi (73)

IN: M. Harms, O. Hotton, B. Paton, C. Sharman, B. Watson
OUT: M. Windhager (AFL), J. Billings (hamstring), J. Bytel (concussion), W. Dunne, J. Segar
NEW: Olli Hotton, 18, Hampton Rovers/Sandringham Dragons

UMPIRES

FIELD: 7.Sam Nippress, 10.Chris Brackenrig, 29.Tom Chrystie. BOUNDARY: Sam Button, Ben Duce, Charles Powell. GOAL: Nick Ford, Morgan Lee.