More to come from young duo

DEBUTANT pair Cooper Stephens and Mitch Knevitt are set to play more football at the top level this year after impressing the coaches.

The Geelong Falcons pair (below) stepped out for the first time at an AFL level against GWS last weekend, with Stephens given a standard debut and Knevitt brought off the bench as medical sub.

Stephens looked assured in an inside-midfield role, grabbing 19 disposals, including eight contested, at 78 per cent efficiency.

Brought on at quarter-time as defender Jed Bews went down with concussion, Knevitt also slotted in seamlessly and picked up 15 disposals, and used his height to take seven marks.

While not assured of their place in the side to face St Kilda this weekend as Joel Selwood returns to the midfield mix, both did enough for Cats coach Chris Scott to believe they can mix it at the top level.

“They certainly played well enough to hold their spots,” Scott said.

“I think the most important thing to convey is we thought they played well enough to play AFL footy the next week.

“I think that is the most important part long-term in their development that they were able to come in and look comfortable at the level.”