Queenscliff will unveil highly talented junior prospect Archie Gladman in tomorrow’s clash with Newcomb at Queenscliff Recreation Reserve.
The 18-year-old son of Couta great James, who won the BFNL goalkicking twice, and Ange, who is part of the Monahan dynasty at the Couta Bowl, Gladman has impressed at under-18 level and with St Joseph’s College’s 1st XVIII.
“Any time that you’re bringing through one of your own who’s been around the club a long time, it gives you a pretty good feeling,” Queenscliff coach Heath Jamieson said.
“It was a nice conversation to have. I spoke with Ange yesterday afternoon to let her know he was playing, and then we surprised Jimmy at the start of our training last night.
“It’s a good story for our footy club to keep the next generation coming through.”
Jamieson says Gladman, who replaces the unavailable Zac Henderson, has deserved his opportunity.
“He’s done a lot of work on his footy,” Jamieson said. “A couple of years ago, he was a little bit smaller, and he’s just had a growth spurt from 15 onwards.
He’s done a lot of work in the gym. He’s got himself in really good condition. He’s always had talent, but he’s backing that up now with a bit of size and a bit of grunt.
“No one at our footy club probably trains more than Arch this year.
“He does the two sessions with the seniors every week and the two sessions with his under-18s.
“We were pretty keen to get him in and, you know, opportunity presented itself this weekend.”
The surprise pack of the 2025 Bellarine season, Queenscliff sits fourth on the ladder with five rounds remaining.
They are two games and 27 per cent clear of sixth-placed Anglesea.
However, the double chance remains in play, sitting a game and five per cent behind third-placed Drysdale.
Jamieson, though, isn’t looking past the clash with the Power, who defeated Queenscliff in their Round 1 meeting.
“They gave us a touch-up Round 1, so we’ve got to be on our game,” he said.
“I think their contest work’s really good; they beat us up in the contest Round 1. And, you know, they’ve also got some firepower up forward.
“(Josh) Saltalamacchia and (Jack Duke) are really crafty forwards that can be hard to stop if they get the supply right.
“We’ve worked on our game this year, and when we do play the style that we want to play, we know it’s good.
“And we’re also confident that the Couta Bowl suits how we play – a lot of sides don’t like playing there.
“But, we fully respect what Newcomb can do, and they’ve shown us that they can do it against us this year.”
The Power have made three changes.
Jack Drought, Thewin Robertson, and Mason Andrews replace Pat McGinley, Judd Smith and Nathan McDonald.
Geelong Amateur has named Geelong Falcon Archer Hanegraaf at full forward in the absence of league-leading goalkicker Mitch Day for the clash with Drysdale at Drysdale Recreation Reserve.
Day, who has kicked 58 goals from 13 games in his return from GFNL club Lara, is serving a one-match suspension for an incident in the pre-bye win over Queenscliff.
The Pegs will also be without experienced defender Spiro Alesios (unavailable), with Archer Jacques omitted.
Geordie Richardson, who has split his time between Geelong Grammar and Geelong Falcons in 2025, will make his senior debut.
While Cody Diana will make his first senior appearance for Ammos, having played one game at 2 o’clock for Barwon Heads in 2018.
With defender Luke Preece to make his VFL debut for Werribee, Declan Foley is his replacement at the Hawks.
Portarlington has lodged a season-high eight changes for its clash with Anglesea at Ron Evans Oval.
The Demons, who sit a game and 37 per cent behind fifth-placed Barwon Heads, need a win over the sixth-place Roos to keep alive their dreams of a first finals appearance in 31 years.
Helping their cause is the return of Scott Greenhough, Nick Sing, Teia Miles, Will Foott, Max Ruiter, Steve Walton, Harry Sedgmen, and Josh Jones.
Among the outs are defender James Goetz, who suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung in the loss to the Seagulls, Liam Vagg (concussion protocol), Dylan O’Brien (ankle), and Josh Reid (unavailable).
Nick Lane, Damian Tabakovic, Lachie Hart, and Trae Cook have been omitted.
Captain James Carr, Will Batson, and Matt Connell are the inclusions for the Roos, replacing Myles Brinkworth, Josh King, and Ethan Barry.
Barwon Heads has made four changes for the return Battle of the Bridge meeting with Ocean Grove at Howard Harmer Oval.
Darcy Griffin, Charlie Hurst, and Tom Swift return, while Lachie Blacket is available as the Geelong Falcons enter two weeks off.
They replace unavailable pair Lachie Wilson and Cam O’Leary and injured duo Jimmy Allen (knee) and Sonni Walter (ankle).
Despite being named as an emergency, Mitch Herbison is unavailable due to coaching commitments with Geelong VFL tomorrow night.
The Grubbers have been boosted by several handy inclusions.
Veteran Jye Walker, recruits Gus Bourke and Mitch Ward, and Harry Cashin are among those back to strengthen the visitors.
Kye Annand has again earned Geelong VFL selection.
As K rock Football revealed on Thursday, Torquay will be without spearhead Lucas Anderson for its meeting with Modewarre at Mt Moriac Reserve.
Anderson suffered a head knock in the pre-bye win over Angelsea and entered the concussion protocol.
The Tigers will be boosted by the return of Geelong VFL midfielder Paddy Hughes, Geelong Falcons duo Hamish McGowan and Van Rahilly, and forward Tom Hooper.
The Warriors lodged an unchanged team on Thursday night.
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