Towering Gippsland Power star Will Dawson set to make AFL debut in North Melbourne and Essendon Bombers clash

North Melbourne will have a new debutant in Wil Dawson when the Kangaroos square off against Essendon on Sunday, May 19 at the Marvel Stadium. The club announced Dawson's imminent debut on X (formerly Twitter) in a birthday post for backman Aidan Corr on Friday.

His teammates and coaches celebrated Corr, who turned 30 in the team's locker room. A cake was presented to Corr, and when asked to make a wish by coach Alastair Clarkson, he asked to play alongside Dawson, a request which the coach granted.

Clarkson then officially informed the 18-year-old of his debut on Sunday, citing his hard work with the footy club as the reason for this reward.

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Who is Wil Dawson, North Melbourne's next debutant?

North Melbourne took Wil Dawson with pick No. 22 in the 2023 national draft. Before being recruited by the Kangaroos, the 18-year-old represented the Talent League outfit, the Gippsland Power.

Dawson is a highly rated key position prospect known for his versatility. The youngster can play as a forward, a defender, or in the ruck position. Standing at 200cm, Dawson commands an imposing presence in the air and on the ground.

Dominant overhead marking, versatility, hard tackling, and swift mobility are some of the standout qualities of the Kangaroos' youngster. Since joining the club, Dawson has played five games in the VFL, dishing out impressive performances that paved the way for his upcoming debut.

He will become the fourth debutant from the North Melbourne 2023 draft class, and the club's sixth AFL debutant in 2024. Dawson will most likely be deployed at the back by coach Clarkson to face Essendon's towering forwards Peter Wright and Jake Stringer.

Dawson will wear the No.18 guernsey when the Kangaroos face the Bombers on Sunday at the Marvel Stadium. He will hope to play a big role for his club who are searching for their first win of the season against an in-form Essendon.

North Melbourne are rock bottom of the AFL standings with no points after nine rounds of matches. Meanwhile, Essendon with a 6-1-2 record is ranked third.