World Footy News

Zach Tuohy and Marty Clarke continue to be solid weekly contributors in Carlton and Collingwood's AFL teams. Pearce Hanley returns from injury this week for Brisbane, Niall McKeever played two weeks ago for them but won't be in the senior side this week. Setanta o'hAilpin is sidelined with injury this week after kicking eight goals in the past two games at GWS while across at the Swans Tommy Walsh has been named on an extened bench and will be hopeful of his first senior match for 2013.

But another Irish youth (albeit Australian raised) will debut for the GWS this week. Eighteen year-old defender Aidan Corr will make his AFL debut against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Corr, who was born in Northern Ireland before moving to Australia as a toddler, was selected with pick 14 in the 2012 draft and has already re-signed with the GIANTS until the end of 2016.

He is the 40th GIANTS player to make his AFL debut since the team entered the AFL competition at the beginning of 2012.

Corr is one of seven players to come into the team with Canberra-born defender Josh Bruce also named to play his first match for the season. 

GIANTS Head Coach Kevin Sheedy said taking on the undefeated Bombers in front of a big crowd at Etihad Stadium was another challenge for his young side in just their second season in the AFL.

"It's a big task for our young players this week and we'll have a look at who wants to step up and see what they've got," said Sheedy.

"Aidan Corr played some terrific football in the NAB Cup and it's fantastic he gets his chance to debut this week. He is another great story in our game with his family immigrating to Australia from Northern Ireland.

"It's a shame we'll be without Setanta o'hAilpin and Phil Davis from an experience point of view but I'm confident their replacements we've brought in will give a good account of themselves and benefit tremendously from the experience they will get playing senior football at this stage of their careers.

"We are playing longer into matches this season and have kicked over 100 points in each of our last two games. We now have to try to string four quarters together but I have no doubt we are on the right path," he said.

Aidan's brother Cathal Corr plays with Collingwood's VFL team but is not on their AFL list.

The GIANTS play Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Saturday at 1.45pm.