VFL team news: Fogarty returns for Round 1

THE CARLTON Reserves have locked in their team of 23 for their season opener at IKON Park tonight.

Kicking off the VFL campaign at home for the second year running, the VFL Blues have named 14 AFL-listed players for the Round 1 clash.

Included in that contingent is Lachie Fogarty, who will return for his first game of 2023 after undergoing back surgery in the off-season.

Although he was initially named in the side last night, Marc Pittonet won’t feature in the VFL after being a late call-up for the AFL team’s win. Lochie O’Brien will front up in the VFL tonight after being activated as sub in last night’s clash with the reigning premiers.

The Blues will have a backline full of AFL-listed names, with Dom Akuei, Alex Cincotta, Sam Durdin, Brodie Kemp and Lachie Plowman all named: they’ll be joined by Luke Parks, the former Carlton AFL rookie who signed with the VFL program for 2023.

After three goals last week in the final practice match, Harry Lemmey is one of three players to make his VFL debut, alongside fellow first-year Blues Jaxon Binns and Hudson O’Keeffe.

Paddy Dow and Jack Carroll will hold down key midfield posts at the feet of Alex Mirkov and O’Keeffe.

Alongside Parks, key VFL recruits Liam McMahon and Ben Ronke will both feature for the Blues, who will be led by sole captain Ben Crocker for the first time.

The game will be live-streamed on the AFL website.