Talented Ocean Grove teenagers Darcy Harrington and Tom Teague will make their first appearances of the season in the Battle of the Bridge clash with Barwon Heads.
The Geelong Falcons-listed duo have been made available by the Talent League club while that competition pauses for the under-18 National Championships.
For Harrington, who debuted for the Grubbers as a 15-year-old in 2024, it’s his first game at senior level since the final round of that year.
Teague played three games in the seniors last year after debuting in Round 13 against Modewarre.
They are among five inclusions for Ocean Grove, with Geelong premiership player Gary Rohan named for his third appearance, while off-season additions Baden Pohlner and Blake Poyser have been recalled from the reserves.
They replace Lachie Joyce (concussion), Levi. Norman (finger), Kirby Reilly (hip flexor), Shannon Waldron (unavailable), and Anton Woods (illness).
Coach Dave Farrell says Ocean Grove is always excited by the prospect of playing their cross-river rivals.
“There’s a lot of history there, and there are some guys playing their first Battle of the Bridge this week,” he said.
“We’ll look to lean into that a little bit and expose them to it and grow from there.”
Barwon Heads, which has won the past eight Battles and 19 of the last 20, will be without Doug Bond, who sustained a nasty concussion in last week’s win over Newcomb, and Sam Hill, who is suspended.
However, experienced defender Kyle Polley and talented youngster Lachie Blacket return.
Ladder leader Queenscliff (1st 8-1) will head to Portarlington (7th 3-6) without Jordy McIvor-Clark and Jayden McHenry.
McIvor-Clark has a broken jaw, and McHenry is battling a shoulder issue, with both expected to be sidelined until after the league-wide bye at the start of July.
They’ve been replaced by Marshall Rippon and Isaac McCabe.
The Demons will welcome back Teia Miles and Max Ruiter, while Ethan Hughes has been promoted from the reserves for his first senior outing of the season.
However, they will be without injured duo Brock Williamson and Patrick Eastman, who both have hamstring injuries, and the omitted Hayden Eddy.
Torquay (2nd 7-2) will make at least three changes for its meeting with Newcomb (5th 5-4) at PlasterCom Oval.
Travis Boak and talented youngsters Van Rahilly and Charlie Montebello are unavailable.
Boak is making a one-off appearance with Eastern league club Blackburn.
Premiership trio Michael Croxford, Jesse Dawson and Nathan Mifsud are likely inclusions for the Tigers.
The Power have replaced suspended duo Charlie Harvey and Thewin Robertson with Judd Smith and Kyle Sykstus.
Will McCartney will become the latest debutant for Surf Coast (11th 1-8) as it prepares for the daunting task of taking on Geelong Amateur (3rd 7-2) at KFC Oval.
The Suns have been forced into six changes, with McCartney joined in the Suns’ lineup by Levi Williams, Koby Nielsen, Ignacio Lopez, Dillyn Fedley, and Tom Young.
They replace Eddie Weeks (shoulder), Joe Pierce (appendicitis), Jas Lang (unavailable), Ted Walliss (hip), Tommy Stephen (suspended), and Riley Cotter (concussion protocol).
Reigning premier Anglesea (6th 4-5) welcomes back gun midfielder Lachie Smith and has recalled Seb Kent from the reserves for a tricky trip to Modewarre (9th 2-7).
They replace the omitted Noah Collins and Alex Braaksma.
Drysdale has the bye.
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