AFL 2023: round 1 teams, debuts, Carlton’s Lachie Cowan, Ollie Hollands
Two Carlton teenagers will get a baptism of fire when they run out for their first AFL game in front of 90,000 Blues and Tigers fans on Thursday night.
Carlton will unveil two debutants in Thursday night’s blockbuster season opener against Richmond.
Ollie Hollands and Lachie Cowan, who were both recruited in last year’s national draft, were informed in unusual circumstances during the Blues team meeting on Monday.
In a stunt for social media, coach Michael Voss answered his phone during the team meeting – which is generally a no-no – and then passed the phone to Hollands, saying it was his father who then revealed he would be coming to watch him against the Tigers.
The meeting then progressed before Voss’s phone rang again and he repeated the same joke, with Cowan’s father telling his son he was to make his AFL debut.
Hollands, who was taken with the Blues’ first pick at No.11, was considered the best two-way runner in the draft and has been one of the most consistent performers for the Blues across the summer.
Cowan is a running defender from Tasmania and reigning Morrish Medallist who Carlton snared at No.30 in last November’s draft.
He is the replacement for Zac Williams, who seriously injured his knee earlier in the pre-season.
Hollands, who played his junior football with the Murray Bushrangers, is the younger brother of Gold Coast midfielder Elijah Hollands.
Both are popular picks in KFC SuperCoach, with Cowan a $117,300 defender and Hollands a $162,300 midfielder.
Check back for updates on every confirmed round 1 debutant.
Originally published as AFL 2023: See every player named to debut in round 1
