Five players who have been starring in the Lions’ undefeated NEAFL side have been named in Senior Coach Chris Fagan’s extended 26-man squad to take on Richmond.

Josh Walker, Cedric Cox, Lewis Taylor, Rhys Mathieson or Brandon Starcevich will come in to play for an injured Allen Christensen, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Walker has played eleven games for the senior team this team, with his previous match being Round 19’s win over Hawthorn in Tasmania. He has played mostly in the backline in 2019 but can swing forward.

If Cox is named in Fagan’s final team tomorrow it will be his first AFL game since Round 18, 2018. This season he has been playing in the NEAFL’s forward line and has spent some time in the midfield. His speed, instinctual nature and improved pressure have earned him this squad selection.

Taylor has played five AFL games this year, his last was Round 9’s loss to Carlton. He has dominated in the NEAFL in recent weeks, with 34 disposals and two goals in last round’s win over GWS in Sydney.

Mathieson, like Taylor, has been strong in the NEAFL team. He booted three goals and had 30 disposals against the GIANTS. If he is named in tomorrow’s team, it will be his tenth AFL appearance in 2019.

Starcevich has played one senior game for the Lions this year. In the NEAFL team he has been alternating between the backline and wing.

The final team will be named tomorrow at 5pm.