Turvey Park will field their 11th debutant of the season when Darcy Irvine plays against Collingullie-Glenfield Park, after losing Jack Haggar (syndesmosis) and Brendan Bryce (hamstring) to injury, while forward Clint Shields is unavailable.
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Bulldogs co-coach Mark Carroll said Shields had asked the club for this week off as far back as late last year, for a reunion at Balranald.
"It's his home town, Balranald, and his family's got a bit of a shindig on so we give him the clearance and he'll be back next week," Carroll said. "He deserved that, when it's your home town."
Of more concern to Carroll is Haggar set to miss most of the season after an operation on his ankle. He was injured in the loss to Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong two weeks ago, when Brendan Bryce also suffered a recurrence of his long-term hamstring troubles.
"Jack's had the operation already. He's hoping to get back for one or two games at the end of the year, but it's long term for him," Carroll said.
"Bryce, with his history, he might need a month or five weeks off with his hamstring."
Midfielder Luke Cuthbert returns from a three-week suspension but Carroll said three senior players going out makes a tough challenge against the Demons.
He said the upside of the season is the opportunity to get games into young players.
"Cuthy will be jumping out of his skin, he hasn't played for about six weeks, with the byes and that. And we've got a couple of young guys in and they all deserve their opportunity," Carroll said.
"Darcy Irvine will make his first grade debut and that's number 11 for us for the year. I don't think too many clubs would have had that many just six games in, but it's the way it's been with injuries and boys being away this year."
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