IT'S always an exciting time when a club unveils a debutant but South Warrnambool could not be more eager to see two of their own take another step in their promising football careers.
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Fifteen-year-old Archie Stevens and 17-year-old Emmanuel Ajang will both feature in their first senior games against Terang Mortlake on Saturday.
Roosters coach Mat Battistello will be just one excited onlooker as the Greater Western Victoria Rebels-listed pair strut their stuff on D.C Farran Oval.
"Archie being a fifteen-year-old he can still play under 16s but for his development he has been playing in the under 18s," he said.
"He would train with every group he could from under 16s to under 18s and also with the senior group.
"But over the last couple of weeks we had him with just the senior group so we could manage his workloads.
"It's genuinely exciting to see a kid like that get his chance and enjoying everything. He deserves it because of the the work he does and he has a terrific family and is popular around the club. It's exciting for us all."
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Battistello said Ajang, who has played consistently in a key position role for the Rebels' NAB league side, making his debut was not only an exciting prospect for him but for the club in general.
"He has earned his spot in the senior side and we as a club are really proud to have seven on the Rebels list and obviously when they come back in form we're committed to playing them at the highest level," he said.
"With plenty of depth it's a challenge with our squad as it puts all players on notice to make sure we perform each week."
Battistello said Stevens would float through his side's wing-forward rotation, while Ajang is expected to take up a key position post in the heart of the Roosters' defence.
Fellow Rebels Marcus Herbert, Fraser Marris and Isaac Thomas also return alongside co-captain Nick Thompson, Paddy Anderson and Brayden Beks.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
