Josh Bruce will make his return to football via Footscray in the VFL on Saturday afternoon against Gold Coast at TIO Stadium.
Bruce has not been seen at any level since sustaining a rib injury in the Bulldogs’ Gather Round loss to Port Adelaide, but has made strides in his recovery to become available ahead of schedule.
2022 draftee Harvey Gallagher will also line up for the ‘Scray, making his red, white and blue debut after overcoming a hamstring concern.
Bruce and Gallagher are two of 15 senior-listed players to be named, joining Laith Vandermeer, Buku Khamis and Rhylee West to list a few.
Lachie Sullivan will lead from the centre, while Caleb Poulter and Josh Chatfield will look to impact on the wing and inside respectively.
The team will wear 2023 Indigenous guernseys designed by Kerrup-Mara Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta man Jason Walker, inspired by the Lake Condah Possum Skin Cloak.
The clash will begin at 3.30pm AEST (3pm ACST) at TIO Stadium in Darwin, acting as a curtain-raiser to the later AFL match at 7.25pm AEST (6.55pm ACST).
The match will be live-streamed via afl.com.au/vfl, with score updates available via @FootscrayVFL on Twitter.
Round 10 – Gold Coast Suns v Footscray Bulldogs
Saturday 27 May, 3.30pm AEST (3pm ACST)
TIO Stadium, Darwin
B: Charlie Clarke, Jedd Busslinger, Cody Raak
HB: Alex Keath, Hayden Crozier, Luke Cleary
C: Robbie McComb, Lachie Sullivan, Caleb Poulter
HF: Rhylee West, Buku Khamis, Laith Vandermeer
F: Josh Bruce, Mitch Hannan, Harvey Gallagher
R: Jordon Sweet, Toby McLean, Josh Chatfield
Int: Luke Goater, Ewan Macpherson, Cooper Craig-Peters, Dan Orgill, Jamieson Ballantyne
Emer: Josh Kellett, Ned Harris
