A flood of injuries and unavailability has opened the door for the return of two-time Werribee Centrals best-and-fairest, Tyler Crennan, for Saturday’s clash with Corio.
Missing from the opening six rounds of the season due to work and family commitments, the 2023 Whitley Medal runner-up made two appearances in the reserves before last week’s interleague break.
Coach Rhyce Prismall says they made no promises to Crennan when he returned to training last month.
“It’s probably only the fact that we’ve got so many boys going to Europe and a couple of injuries that we really entertained it,” he said.
“And the more we did and the more we spoke to Tyler and the coaching staff, we thought it was a bit of a no-brainer that we should get him in at the moment, with our availability and see how it goes.
“He probably is an A-grader in the competition if you look at the past five or six seasons. So, not a bad inclusion.
“Hopefully, he can get back to his old straps that we’ve seen in the past couple of seasons.”
With Centrals’ midfield one of the competition’s most dominant, led by GDFNL representative Tate Camilleri, the returning Connor Linehan-Cunningham, and Lara recruit Aaron Stone, Crennan will likely spend more time elsewhere on the ground.
“He might receive some midfield minutes, but we’ve got a few things up his sleeve with Tyler,” Prismall said.
“Although he does run a lot, and he looks after himself in the gym, we all know the game of footy has a different physical demand, so we’ll have to ease him into it.”
“And the best part is his attitude and everything has been, ‘Whatever you need from me or whatever the team needs, I’m happy to play that role’.
“That’s something that we’ve tried to really drive this year, and for Tyler to have that attitude straight up, it’s very pleasing as a coach.”
Brad Carlton and Connor Linehan-Cunningham, who missed the win over Inverleigh in Round 8, along with Zech De Leon and Jack Stephenson, have headed to Europe for the wedding of reigning reserves best-and-fairest Harrison Snow.
Harley Kilby (knee) and Max Ryan (ankle) will also be sidelined.
Joining Crennan as inclusions for the clash with the Devils are Max Murdock, Damian Williams, and Josh Stone, who will make his first senior appearance of the season.
Three games clear of a group of six teams holding 5-3 win-loss records, Centrals appear well-placed for their first minor premiership since last playing in a grand final in 2010.
However, Prismall maintains that locking down a finals berth is the priority.
“We would be highly expecting, probably only needing to win another three games to play finals,” he said. “But you do start looking at the double chance.
“The minor premiership wouldn’t even be a thought for another six or seven weeks.
“We’ve always gone with the old cliche of not looking too far ahead, and I think that’s working for us.”
Corio will unveil debutant Harry Lubcke.
Lubcke, a Bannockburn junior, didn’t play in 2025, but has impressed in eight reserves appearances since arriving at All In One Services Oval.
The Devils welcome back Blake Ash after he missed the loss to North Geelong through suspension.
However, off-season recruit Tom McMahon will miss due to suspension, and Kade Bergen returns to the reserves.
East Geelong (4th 5-3) welcomes back captain John McIntyre and the experienced Jayden Fanning for a crucial clash with preliminary final opponent Bell Post Hill (2nd 5-3).
Marley McCombe has been recalled from the reserves after being the victim of a points squeeze at Richmond Crescent.
Lachie Zimmer is battling a groin issue, while Sam King has been omitted.
Experienced midfielder David Isbister will make his first senior appearance of the season among four handy inclusions for Winchelsea (6th) ahead of its clash with Thomson (10th 2-6) at Godfrey Street.
The former Williamstown VFL player featured in six games for the Blues last season.
Coach Ben Moloney will also welcome back Cassidy and Fin Parish, who missed the win over Anakie before the interleague break, and captain Jordan Huff, who has served a two-match suspension for rough conduct against Bell Post Hill in Round 6.
They replace the unavailable Eamon Dempsey and omitted trio Cooper Mumberson, Tom Rouget and Tim Miles.
Geelong West (12th 0-8) has lost Brayden Mitchell and Riley Croft to injury, among three changes for the meeting with North Geelong (3rd 5-3).
The Giants have omitted Louis Bei from the team that was well beaten by Bannockburn before the break.
However, they welcome back leading goalkicker Nick Butters and Liam Treacy and will debut Nick Lloyd, a product of the Giants’ junior program.
The Magpies will be without injured star Osca Riccardi, while Jordan Purcell has returned to GFNL club North Shore during the break.
However, co-captain Zac Schwennesen, Jasper George and Sof Florio return stints on the sideline, and Noah Penny has been recalled from the reserves.
Josh Wilson, Lachie Slorach and Ollie Mayman provide Belmont Lions (7th 5-3) with a trio of handy inclusions for their matchup with Inverleigh (8th 4-4) at Fortis Foundations Oval.
Matt Dyster is sidelined with a shoulder issue, while co-coach Brent Vermeulen and Jesse Stapleton return to the reserves.
The Hawks have been boosted by the inclusion of vice-captain Jarrod Love, Scott Condy, Jarod Bacon, and Dan Grozdanvoski, who will play his first senior match of the season.
Unless Inverleigh makes a deep run in the finals, a broken leg suffered by Dan Maher in the pre-bye loss to Werribee Centrals is likely to have ended his season.
Xavier Lewis, Ethan Lubcke and Noah Sneskov have been dropped.
Former Lara player Sam Erwin is among four inclusions for Anakie (9th 3-5) ahead of its must-win clash against Bannockburn (5th 5-3).
The Roos have welcomed back Sam McLachlan and Josh Mawson, and recalled Declan Robinson from the reserves.
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