Stephen Wrigley has followed a relatively unconventional path towards the AFL.

Only three years ago, he was lining up alongside his mates with Blackburn in Melbourne’s Eastern Football League, with any plans of a professional footballer career taking a back seat to his University studies.

Now, after earning a place on the Club’s rookie list late last year, Wrigley is set to become the fifth Lions player this season to make his senior AFL debut, when he runs out onto Patersons Stadium to face the West Coast Eagles this Sunday.

At 25, he is also one of the oldest first-gamers to represent the Club for some time.

Wrigley hopes playing against senior opposition for a number of years in both Victoria and Queensland will help him better adjust to the elite level.

“Having played with the bigger bodies will hopefully make me feel more prepared for senior footy,” he told lions.com.au back in February.

Even though he is still relatively slight in build, he certainly does not lack experience.

In fact, Wrigley is the 14th oldest player on the Lions’ 48-man list - almost a full year older than ruckman Matthew Leuenberger who is already a ‘veteran’ of six AFL seasons.

This Sunday, the Labrador recruit will also become just the 12th player to wear the Number 48 guernsey in a senior AFL game for the Club (including Fitzroy, Bears and Brisbane Lions).

Ken Hinkley currently holds the Club record for most games in the Number 48, having worn it in only 10 matches during his first season at Fitzroy in 1987.

Although Hinkley’s Fitzroy career was short-lived, he went onto enjoy a long and successful career with Geelong - winning the Cats’ Best and Fairest award in 1992, being twice named in the All Australian side, and featuring in three losing Grand Final sides (1992, 1994 and 1995).

It’s been almost 13 years since Lions fans have seen the Number 48 appear in a senior match - with David Calthorpe the most recent occupant of that particular guernsey during his nine matches with the Club back in 1999.

Ray Windsor (Bears) and Grant Lawrie (Fitzroy) have also formerly worn the Number 48 guernsey in nine matches with the Club.

MOST CLUB GAMES IN THE #48
10 - Ken Hinkley (Fitzroy)
9 - David Calthorp (Lions)
9 - Ray Windsor (Bears)
9 - Grant Lawrie (Fitzroy)
5 - Wayne Linton (Fitzroy)
5 - David Crutchfield (Fitzroy)
3 - Paul Hodgson (Fitzroy)
1 - Graham Goninon (Fitzroy)
1 - Peter McCormack (Fitzroy)
1 - Ian McGuinness (Fitzroy)
1 - Keith Wiegard (Fitzroy)
1* - Stephen Wrigley (Lions)

20 OLDEST CURRENT LIONS PLAYERS (BIRTHDAY IN BRACKETS)
33 - Ben Hudson (24 February)
33 - Simon Black (3 April)
30 - Jonathan Brown (29 October)
29 - Amon Buchanan (10 October)
29 - Ashley McGrath (20 May)
29 - Josh Drummond (19 April)
28 - Matt Maguire (30 May)
28 - Brent Staker (23 May)
27 - Joel Patfull (7 December)
27 - Daniel Merrett (12 December)
26 - Jed Adcock (15 November)
26 - Cheynee Stiller (3 May)
26 - Andrew Raines (8 March)
25 - Stephen Wrigley (18 April)
24 - Matthew Leuenberger (7 June)
23 - Pearce Hanley (15 November)
23 - James Polkinghorne (21 January)
23 - Dayne Zorko (9 February)
23 - James Hawksley (5 February)
23 - Niall McKeever (16 February)

RELATED LINKS
Size doesn't matter for Wrigley
Wrigley to debut