Article courtesy of The Courier Ballarat

FIRST-YEAR players Cameron Richardson and Ryan McKenzie make their VFL senior debuts for North Ballarat against Sandringham on Sunday.

The duo are among five changes for the Selkirk Roosters.

Josh Smith and Corey Jones return from AFL partner North Melbourne, while Stevie Dinnell is back from a hamstring injury.

In a major overhaul at the selection table, coach Gerard FitzGerald has dropped Clinton Benjamin, Derick Micallef and Rohan McHugh from the line-up which was thumped by Port Melbourne in North Ballarat's only outing

to date two weeks ago, while Aaron Edwards has been recalled by the Kangaroos.

This will be Edwards' first AFL match of the season after a club-imposed suspension for driving offences early this year.

Richardson, 21, and McKenzie, 19, have taken contrasting paths to the Roosters.

Richardson has stepped up from North Ballarat City in the Ballarat Football League after a stellar 2008.

He was North City's best and fairest and had a hit-out with his home club at the weekend while the Roosters had a bye.

McKenzie is from North Ballarat Rebels via Warrack Eagles in the Wimmera.

He earned Victorian Country under-18 selection last year.

The teenager has been selected under new VFL rules which allows clubs to use TAC Cup graduates or existing players as a 23rd man.

In this round, VFL clubs may either use a 19-year-old player from their aligned TAC Cup partner or a player in his first year out of the under-18 competition who is now on its list, but has not yet played a senior match.

McKenzie fits into the second category, having moved up from the Rebels this season.

Richardson and McKenzie were emergencies for the Roosters in the opening round.

Dinnell joins Bill Driscoll as a second crumbing forward beside full forward Josh Smith, who starred in last year's VFL grand final in front of goal.

Dinnell was close to selection in the opening round, but was rested.

North Ballarat has six North Melbourne players to face Sandringham, which is in its first season aligned with St Kilda.

Premiership player Matt Sharkey (hip) makes his return in the North Ballarat reserves as expected as does Ayden George (hamstring), Nick Peters (stress fractures) and North Melbourne rookie Cruize Garlett (ankle), who was injured five weeks ago.

Dean Chester (schapoid), Chris Lynch (ankle), Alex Gubbins (hamstring), Lucas Boyd (ankle) and Jason Linke (hamstring) remain on the injured list.

Sandringham vs. North Ballarat
Sunday 26th April, Trevor Barker Beach Oval at 2:00 PM

Sandringham

B: Biddlecombe Miles Howard
HB: Waller Maguire X. Clarke
C: Gallagher Summers Paterakis
HF: Lynch Crowe Heyne
F: S. Clarke Sautner Tregear
R: McEvoy L. Fisher Armitage
Int: Connors Ferraro* Gilchrist R. Eddy Lockwood Simpkin Stanley Gilder R. Clarke

North Ballarat

B: Greig Moloney Watt
HB: Feery Searl Hall
C: Sewell Clifton Roach
HF: McMahon Cartledge Jones
F: Driscoll Jo. Smith Dinnell
R: Stephenson Goodes W. Benjamin
Int: White Spolding McKenzie* Wundke Richardson T. George Micallef Bell McHug