The Western Bulldogs will field their first debutant of 2023 this Thursday night against Brisbane, handing speedy forward Arthur Jones his maiden senior opportunity.
The Indigenous youngster has spent the last year and a half biding his time in the VFL program, and had impressed with his preseason work this summer before being sidelined with a groin injury.
Development coach Travis Varcoe broke the news to Jones in front of the entire playing group during Tuesday morning’s team meeting.
“It’s a really exciting moment for me and my family, but also for the Club,” Jones said.
“It’s a bit hard to put into words. It’s a great moment – when you work at something for so long.
“I had a massive preseason and just before round one tweaked my groin, so to have a speedy recovery and have all the boys see the work I’ve put in – to finally get this one thing that I’ve wanted so bad, is kind of an emotional moment.
“It’s a lifelong dream. I’m just so grateful to the Western Bulldogs for giving me the chance to debut.
“Hopefully I can make the red, white and blue as proud as they can be.”
Jones was selected with pick 43 in the 2021 AFL Draft, hailing from Mt Barker in Western Australia.
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