Geelong will unveil a debutant and welcome back a pair from injury when they take on Sydney in the VFL on Friday.

Birchip Watchem product William Sheahan - who has joined Leopold in the Geelong Football Netball League this year - will make his VFL debut.

A former Bendigo Pioneers player, Sheahan is a hybrid forward type with a great vertical leap.

Brayden Ham and Osca Riccardi will make their return from injury, while Ben Lloyd also returns to the side.

Jack Bowes, Brandan Parfitt, Oisin Mullin and Mitch Knevitt have all been named in the VFL side, with the Cats to name their AFL substitute from among the quartet closer to the game.

The Cats VFL side will be without captain Angus Byrne for the medium term, with the skipper undergoing knee surgery, while Hamish Lucas will also be out for the medium term with a syndesmosis injury.

Marcus Herbert is also out with a short-term calf injury, while Oscar Murdoch (injury) and Jack Evans (omitted) also out of the team.

The Cats are set to take on Sydney from 4.05pm at the SCG on Friday. The match will be streamed live and free on the official AFL App and website.

VFL Round 15

In: Jack Bowes, Osca Riccardi, Brayden Ham, Ben Lloyd, William Sheahan
Out: Oscar Murdoch (injured), Marcus Herbert (injured), Jack Evans (omitted), Angus Byrne (injured), Hamish Lucas (injured)
Debut: William Sheahan (Birchip Watchem / Leopold)