SON-OF-A-GUN Osca Riccardi will pull on the hoops for the first time after being named in the Bendigo Bank VFL Cats side to take on Sandringham this Sunday.
Riccardi visited the club earlier this year alongside other father-son prospects, plays his football for the Geelong Falcons and is due to turn 18 on August 23.
“If we’re 50-50 on players in the draft or bringing guys through, we’re biased towards the local guys," Cats coach Chris Scott said in this morning's press conference.
“It has an added impact when there’s a family lineage as well.
“To see the Riccardi name out there, it’s going to be exciting for the Cats supporters.”
Shaun Higgins will return from injury after sitting out since early July following knee surgery.
“He’s fought really hard to give himself the chance,” Scott said.
“He’s been a real asset to us off the field through this period; he’s really invested.
“And he’s just keen to throw everything at it so that if an opportunity arises, he’s ready.
“It’s a good sign.”
Zach Tuohy and Sam Menegola have also been named for Sunday’s 1:05 clash at GMHBA Stadium.
VFL Round 16 Team
Ins: Z Tuohy, O Riccardi, S Higgins, S Menegola, B Lloyd, O Tate
Outs: J Evans, L Waddell, A Byrne, S Neale, K Chalcraft, C Stephens
Team:
| Backs | 47. M. Ling | 50. D. Capiron | 54. O. Tate |
| Half Backs | 41. Z. Williams | 17. E. Ratugolea | 21. N. Stevens |
| Centreline | 4. S. Higgins | 20. J. Willis | 10. M. Knevitt |
| Half Forwards | 37. S. Simpson | 73. Z. Zdybel | 52. J. McLachlan |
| Forwards | 31. F. Evans | 36. P. Tsapatolis | 28. O Dempsey |
| Followers | 6. T. Conway | 19. Q. Narkle | 40. L. Dahlhaus |
| Interchange | 27. S. Menegola | 57. J. Chalcraft | 2. Z. Tuohy |
| 79. O. Riccardi | 74. B. Lloyd | ||
| 23rd Player | 79. O. Riccardi | ||
| Emergencies | 65. J. Evans | 56. L. Waddell | 78. T. Lovell |
| 49. R. Abbott | 81. A. Byrne. | 89. L. Bond |
