Potential Pick 1 selection Finn O'Sullivan will make his return from a recent thumb injury in Saturday's clash between the AFL Academy and VFl side Footscray.
O'Sullivan suffered a fractured thumb in his first game for the Oakleigh Chargers in the Talent League this season, with the ailment having since kept the exciting teenager out of action.
After missing the AFL Academy's first game of 2024 two weeks ago against Coburg, the highly-rated ball winner will slot into Tarkyn Lockyer's side for their bout with the Bulldogs at Whitten Oval this weekend.
O'Sullivan, who is one of several leading candidates to be taken first overall at the National Draft in November, will be joined by Bendigo forward Archer Day-Wicks, Greater Western Victoria midfielder Sam Lalor and Western Australian pair Bo Allan and Malakai Champion in returning from injury for Sunday's game.
Murray Bushrangers backman Matt Whitlock has been called up to the AFL Academy. At the same time, his brother Jack, Taj Hotton, Jordan Nguyen and Tobie Travaglia make way after being injury replacements for the game against Coburg.
AFL Academy members Sid Draper, Jonty Faull and Noah Mraz remained sidelined through injury.
The AFL Academy will look to bounce back from their 27-point defeat to the Lions at IKON Park earlier this month - an outing that saw a number of promising draft stars prove their value.
Sandringham Dragons defender Luke Trainor was named best-afield for the Academy in the loss, while teammate and Brisbane Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft led the game for disposals with 33 touches, as well as five clearances, five inside 50s and a goal.
The inclusions of O'Sullivan and Lalor further strengthen the squad's dazzling pool of midfielders, with Ashcrfot, Camporeale brothers Ben and Lucas, Leonardo Lombard, Josh Smillie, Christian Moraes and Tom Gross all likely to get a look through the middle on Sunday.
The game against Footscray will take place at 11:00am (AEST) on Saturday at Whitten Oval.
| FIRST NAME | SURNAME | HEIGHT | STATE LEAGUE CLUB | COMMUNITY CLUB |
| Sid | Draper | 182 | South Adelaide | Willunga |
| Levi | Ashcroft | 179 | Sandringham Dragons | Old Brighton Grammarians |
| Ben | Camporeale | 186 | Glenelg | Brighton Districts & Old Scholars |
| Lucas | Camporeale | 185 | Glenelg | Brighton Districts & Old Scholars |
| Malakai | Champion | 172 | Subiaco | Mines Rovers |
| Archer | Day-Wicks | 186 | Bendigo Pioneers | Sandhurst |
| Xavier | Lindsay | 183 | Gippsland Power | Leongatha |
| Leonardo | Lombard | 178 | Gold Coast Suns Academy | Broadbeach |
| Sam | Marshall | 185 | Brisbane Lions Academy Sandringham Dragons | Old Melburnians |
| Ricky | Mentha | 178 | Northern Territory Academy Gippsland Power | Morwell |
| Christian | Moraes | 183 | Eastern Ranges | Knox |
| Jagga | Smith | 181 | Oakleigh Chargers | Richmond |
| Bo | Allan | 191 | Peel Thunder | Halls Head |
| Joel | Cochran | 195 | Sydney Swans Academy | UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs |
| Jonty | Faull | 195 | GWV Rebels | Redan |
| Tom | Gross | 181 | Oakleigh Chargers | Old Trinity Grammarians |
| Harvey | Langford | 190 | Dandenong Stingrays | Mount Martha |
| Noah | Mraz | 198 | Dandenong Stingrays | Narre North Foxes |
| Harry | O'Farrell | 196 | Calder Cannons | Maribyrnong Park |
| Finn | O'Sullivan | 182 | Oakleigh Chargers | Koroit |
| Jobe | Shanahan | 194 | Bendigo Pioneers | Moama |
| Josh | Smillie | 194 | Eastern Ranges | Park Orchards |
| Luke | Trainor | 194 | Sandringham Dragons | Old Brighton Grammarians |
| Oliver | Dean | 201 | Tasmania Devils | North Launceston |
| Sam | Lalor | 180 | GWV Rebels | Bacchus Marsh |
| Matt | Whitlock | 199 | Murray Bushrangers | Shepparton |
| Tyler | Welsh | 191 | Adelaide | Henley |
*Denotes injured and won't play