Schlensog has chance to impress AFL recruiters

POTENTIAL Geelong draftee Blake Schlensog will make his Vic Country debut as the Falcons adjust to a chaotic week of selection changes tomorrow against the Murray Bushrangers.

The Falcons have made six changes, including two debutants, as part of the TAC Cup’s “future round” that mandates clubs must field at least 11 bottom-age players.

Jacsen Jewell will play his first TAC Cup game after impressing in his nine senior games at Lara in the GFL.

Will Batson earns his breakthrough chance after a strong start to the season for St Mary’s Division 1 under-17 side.

Big man Dane Hollenkamp will sit out the match after suffering concussion and a cut chin from a heavy clash last weekend.

The Falcons opted to give him the week off, despite no lingering effects of the incident and a belief he was probably right to play.

Hollenkamp remains a live chance to be called up for Vic Country’s Round 4 national championship game against Western Australia at GMHBA Stadium next Friday.

Schlensog is one of six Falcons in the Vic Country squad for Sunday’s clash against Vic Metro at the MCG.

Potential No.1 draft selection Sam Walsh headlines the list that includes likely Cats father-son selection Oscar Brownless, Barwon Heads’ Ned McHenry, Drysdale’s Connor Idun, Colac’s Cooper Stephens and Schlensog.

As the Cats have bidding rights to Brownless in this year’s draft, the Cats can also apply to have priority access to Schlensog, given he is part of their Next Generation Academy.

The Grovedale junior midfielder, 17, has developed into one of the Falcons’ better draft prospects this year with his dare and impressive agility for his 197cm size.

“He has flair that others don’t. Takes the game on and shows glimpses of a potential AFL player. Has had a big transformation in 12 months,” Falcons coach Daniel O’Keefe said last week.

“Blake was always a ruckman growing up and now he has been developing more as a forward this year at TAC level.”