When news throughout the week comes to light that a player will make his long-awaited AFL debut, a mixture of feelings seeps into the fan's mind.

'How exciting to see the club blood a new player, but will he be named the sub?'

The much-disliked substitute role has surprisingly kept its place in football despite many contesting its viability in today's game.

Current games record holder and Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury has previously slammed its existence, following a host of debutants utilised in the role.

"I couldn't imagine playing your first game and being the sub. Like, I think it's ridiculous," Pendlebury said earlier in the year.

"I'd love to make it five or four on the bench, I don't care, as long as it goes."

But following Thursday night's contest between Essendon and Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, fans were given an insight into how coaches determine the sub, and why debutants usually get the vest.

The Bomber unveiled mid-season recruit Saad El-Hawli for the must-win clash, while rookie draftee Tom Cochrane got his chance on the big stage.

Power coach Ken Hinkley insinuated it helps break the youngster into the rigours of top-level football, whilst simultaneously giving him a taste.

"I don't think it's hard now," Hinkley said of giving a debutant the sub vest.

"I think we're getting at understanding that giving some young people some opportunity to experience the AFL game early.

"And that outweighs the challenge of being the sub. Christian Moraes, last week, came on as the sub and played a really solid game.

"Tommy Cochrane got his first chance tonight to taste AFL football.

"You have to use what you have, and we thought the right thing to do was start him as sub."

Essendon coach Brad Scott said he knew what he was doing when giving El-Hawli limited minutes on the night, expecting his trademark burst to be a feature late in the match, as both clubs came off five-day breaks.

"Saad El-Hawli comes on as the sub and did exactly what we thought he'd do," Scott said.

El-Hawli's first two possessions in his career broke the game open early in the fourth term, helping Essendon regain ascendancy as they charged toward a maiden 2025 victory.

So far this season, a total of seven debutants have been deployed as the substitute, with Levi Ashcroft supposed to be the eighth, but a late withdrawal of Charlie Cameron in Round 1 saw the son-of-a-gun promoted.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has also opted to play Sid Draper in the sub role so far in the season, but says managing his load will help him merge into AFL football.

"Yeah (we have to) keep his match fitness up, and we do a lot of work around that," Nicks said on Thursday.

Club Player Round
Sydney Tom Hanily Opening Round
Melbourne Harvey Langford Round 1
Sydney Riley Bice Round 1
Adelaide Sid Draper Round 1
Port Adelaide Christian Moraes Round 2
Port Adelaide Tom Cochrane Round 3
Essendon Saad El-Hawli Round 3

 

"If Sid doesn't play (a full game), he plays a quarter and a half, he does a lot of work to get his loads back to where we need them.

"But there is a challenge with that, playing at match level and the demands of the competition and against an oppo is not the same as running up and back post-game.

"You see him doing that post-game, and he doesn't enjoy it, but at the moment, it is not an issue. Sid is a professional already. It will just be one that we will keep an eye on in the next couple of weeks."

In 2024, 76 players made their debut, with 20 starting on the bench when the first siren rang.

This year, 32 players have made their AFL debuts thus far.