PAT AMBROSE TO DEBUT FOR ESSENDON TONIGHT

The VAFA and in turn Old Xaverians were delighted to see the name of Pat Ambrose in Essendon’s round 1 selected side for their season opener against North Melbourne tonight at Etihad Stadium. Having been recruited to Essendon’s Rookie List in the December draft, Ambrose was promoted to the senior list yesterday and named to make his debut. 
Ambrose played the first 10 games of the 2013 season for Old Xaverians before being selected in Essendon’s VFL side for the remainder of the season. Ambrose’s last match at Amateur level was for the senior representative Big V side that defeated the AFL Victoria Country by three points at the Junction Oval last year. 
Commencing with Old Xaverians in 2010 as an Under 19 player, Ambrose played some reserves football for Coburg in the VFL development league in 2010-11. He played 18 matches in the senior Old Xaverians side in 2012, earning a VAFA Club Warehouse Rising Star nomination in round 5 of 2012. In June, 2012, Ambrose played for the VAFA U23 team that defeated the WAAFL U23 team at Sportscover Arena and finished the season as runner-up in the Old Xaverians Best and Fairest. 
Joining Essendon’s VFL list for the 2013 season, Ambrose’s strong form for Old Xaverians in the first half of the year saw him play the remainder of the season in the Bombers’ VFL side. 
A VAFA rule requiring players to play a least two senior games after June 30 prevented Ambrose from playing finals and the eventual premiership that Old Xaverians won in 2013. Incidentally this rule was altered at last year’s VAFA AGM to allow players who had played at least eight games in the course of the season to also be eligible if the minimum of five games with two of those being after June 30 was not met.
Nevertheless, with Essendon securing Ambrose as a Rookie at the end of 2013, and subsequently promoting him to the senior list, the key position half forward will make his debut at the highest level tonight. 
Everyone at the VAFA wishes Pat Ambrose the best of luck on his debut for Essendon tonight and for more success over the remainder of the season.