It’s a remarkable statistic and while records are sketchy, it’s hard to believe there’s ever been that many in a year.

The fact it’s only round 13 makes the milestone even more incredible.

Wodonga leads the way with 19, while Albury (14), Wangaratta Rovers (14) and Corowa-Rutherglen (13) are the others in double figures.

Albury’s Fraser Duryea is one of nine players from the club’s juniors to debut.

“I suppose (the biggest difference to thirds) is the physicality and the pace of the game picks up quite a bit,” he said.

A handful of the Tigers’ first-year players will be home to North Albury on Saturday.

The Hoppers haven’t been helped with the loss of star players Chris Schmidt and Lachie Taylor-Nugent.

Schmidt has a broken finger, while Taylor-Nugent had surgery on his broken nose.

“We’ll give the players a licence to take the game on and play with a bit of risk,” North’s Clint Gilson said.

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