Christensen 23, who has played 57 AFL games and 22 VFL games since being recruited to club in 2009, has completed a rigorous rehabilitation program after he underwent back surgery in February.
‘Bundy’ is joined on the list of incoming players by AFL premiership teammate Travis Varcoe and AFL omission Jackson Sheringham. The trio will no doubt add some much needed experience to the young VFL line up.
VFL regulars James Linton and Luke Bath have both been added to the 27-man squad while Kieren Paliouras (St Joseph’s) and Dane McFarlane (Newtown) are a chance to make their first VFL appearances in 2014 after a number of impressive performances at GFL level.
Drysdale defender Stephen Bensted will make his VFL debut as the 23rd player for the Cats. After taking part in the entire pre-season training program, Bensted was invited to be part of the VFL Development Squad and has continued to train with the VFL squad throughout the course of the year. The 20 year old recently represented the Bellarine Football League interleague side and was named their best player in the 45-point loss to the Casey Cardinia League side.
Port Melbourne are starting to resemble the ‘all conquering’ Borough team that went through the 2011 season as undefeated champions and played off in consecutive VFL Grand Finals (2011 & 2012).
They continue to be lead off field by former Geelong senior coach Gary Ayres and on field by highly decorated and universally respected senior players John Baird, Shane Valenti, Sam Pleming, Chris Cain and Toby Pinwill. But it is not a case of the ‘same old’ as the ‘Borough’ have reinvigorated their line up with a host of new faces. James Magner (Melbourne), Marcus Davies (Carlton), Luke Tynan (Casey Scorpions), Marcus Marigliani (Sandringham/Esendon), Will Johnson (Box Hill Hawks/St Kilda), Daniel Connors (Richmond), Robert Eddy (St Kilda) and 2013 Geelong VFL listed ruckman Sandy Robinson have all added a different dimension to the powerhouse stand-alone club.
Since playing off in the 2002 VFL decider, the two sides have built on their intense rivalry and have played out some breathtaking contests in recent years. This week’s match will be the VFL Cats first home game for 6 weeks and after suffering three consecutive losses for the first time since 2011, the young group will be looking to get their season back on track against the undefeated ‘Borough’. The Polly Farmer Gates (off Moorabool St) will open at 12.00pm with all 2014 Geelong members gaining FREE entry.
For all Cats fans that cannot get to the Cattery, the big clash will be telecast live around Victoria on ABC1 from 1.00pm
The match will also be tweeted live, so follow @GeelongVFL on Twitter for all the action including live scores, stats updates and photos.
Bendigo Bank Cats Selected Side - Round 9
B: Joel Hamling, Jake Kolodjashnij, Nick Bourke
HB: Taylor Hunt, Matthew Sully, Jackson Thurlow
C: Travis Varcoe, Allen Christensen, Brad Hartman
HF: Jarrad Jansen, Joshua Walker, Darcy Lang
F: Jack Hollmer, Shane Kersten, James Toohey
R: Andrew Banjanin, Jackson Sheringham, Dominic Gleeson (c)
I/C (from) Kieren Paliouras, James Linton, Luke Bath, Fraser Fort, Cameron Tudor, Daniel Gibbs, Mitch Herbison, Dane McFarlane, Stephen Bensted (23rd Player).
