Pacy Byron Sumner will make his AFL debut for the Sydney Swans in Sunday’s game against Melbourne at the MCG after he was named in the final 22 for the season opener.

Sumner, taken at pick number 54 in the 2009 AFL Draft, played all four games in the recent pre-season series, mainly as a small defender.

His selection will mean all five players who came to the Club in the 2009 draft will have made their debut - and four of them in Lewis Jetta, Gary Rohan, Sam Reid and Sumner will play together on Sunday.

An excited Sumner told www.sydneyswans.com.au it had been a long wait to make his debut.

“It’s a terrific opportunity but at the same time I’m going to try not to put too much pressure on myself and do all the basics right and stick to the team plan,’’ Sumner said.

“I worked really hard to get where I am and get this chance. It was a bit tough seeing the others play last year but I was happy to see them play and develop into the players they are today and it motivated me to push myself even harder.’’

Sumner, who earned the praise of coaching staff for his defensive efforts during the pre-season series, said playing in the backline had been of real benefit to him.

“I learnt a lot playing down back during the pre-season. Growing up I was always on ball or playing up forward, so throughout the NAB Cup I’ve learned to play a lot more defensive and it has added another part to my game.’’

The Swans team on Sunday will boast three indigenous players in Sumner, Jetta and co-captain Adam Goodes. Sumner said Jetta - who is actually his nephew - was as excited as he was. “Jets is super-excited for me. It’s big for us boys,’’ Sumner said.

Sumner’s gain came at the expense of Jarred Moore who failed a fitness test on the ankle he rolled two weeks ago against St Kilda.

He dropped out of the 25-man squad as did Trent Dennis-Lane, with Jed Lamb, Craig Bird and Brett Meredith to be the emergencies.

Sumner will join former Western Bulldog Andrejs Everitt as debutant Swans in Sunday’s season opener at the MCG.

Round 1, Melbourne v Sydney Swans
Sunday March 27, 2.10pm, MCG

Sydney Swans team list:

B: P.Bevan, T.Richards, M.Mattner
HB: R.Shaw, H.Grundy, A.Everitt
C: D.Hannebery, K.Jack, N.Smith
HF: L.Jetta, A.Goodes, B.McGlynn
F: R.O'Keefe, S.Reid, J.White
Foll: S.Mumford, J.Kennedy, J.McVeigh
Interchange: J.Bolton, G.Rohan, M.Seaby, B.Sumner
Emg: C Bird, J Lamb, B Meredith

New:
B.Sumner (Woodville West-Torrens (SA))
A.Everitt (Western Bulldogs)