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AT ONLY 21, Callan Ward concedes he will feel a bit like an old man tomorrow night when he leads out the GWS Giants in their AFL debut against the Swans at ANZ Stadium.

With just 60 senior games on his resume at the Western Bulldogs, Ward is one of only five players with previous AFL experience named in the Giants team for its inaugural game, the remainder being 17 first-gamers, of which 14 are teenagers.

Apart from Ward, Kevin Sheedy's side will field veterans James McDonald (251 games) and Chad Cornes (239 games), as well as Rhys Palmer (53 games) and Phil Davis (18 games).

Of their debutants, nine are only 18, and another five are 19, with Tim Mohr (23), Jonathan Giles (24) and NRL recruit Israel Folau (22) the older first-timers.

''Yeah, I know it feels like it sometimes,'' Ward said when suggested he was the old man. ''It will be different, it will be extremely exciting though. They will bring the enthusiasm we need. Everyone is just pumped to play the game.

''There is a great feeling around the joint at the moment,'' he said comparing the build-up to that of the preliminary finals he played at the Bulldogs. ''Everyone can't wait to get out there and play. I'm a little bit, not a whole lot yet. I'm not really one to get nervous too early before a game. Usually on the drive to a game I'm a bit nervous but I think I probably have been a bit more nervous this week.''

Asked whether he or Davis will get the honour of tossing the coin for the first time, Ward replied: ''We haven't decided yet. It might have to be paper, scissors, rock. I'm not sure how we'll decide that.''

The Giants' average age is 20 years and eight months, and thanks to the 490 games between McDonald and Cornes, the average number of games is boosted to 28. And Ward and his co-captain Davis, will enter the top 10 youngest AFL captains list tomorrow night, Ward at No.9 (21 years 348 days) and Davis at No.3 (21 years and 206 days).

The 17 debutants equals the AFL record held by Adelaide, which fielded 17 in its first match in the AFL in 1991.

Wagga teenager Harry Cunningham is another making his AFL debut after being selected by the Swans for the clash.

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Debutants' ball: Sheedy's side to feature 17 first-gamers for inaugural clash