It was a performance that coach Joel Bennett had hoped was a thing of the past for Corio.
After a narrow win over Anakie and a 19-point loss to Bannockburn before Easter, the Devils’ return from the break was less than ideal, handed a 98-point hiding by a rampaging Winchelsea.
Not surprisingly, Bennett is expecting a response when Corio hosts arch-rivals North Geelong at Shell Reserve.
“We were pretty disappointed in the way we handled the game last week,” he said.
“We absolutely got smashed at the contest, and Winchelsea spread on us, and we never really got it back.
“We didn’t handle the dewy conditions well. We just turned the ball over at stages when we shouldn’t have turned it over.
“We’ve had a really good week on the track. We were pretty honest with each other on Tuesday night when we reviewed the game.
“I’m expecting a pretty big response against North this week.”
Corio will have to take on the unbeaten Magpies without a quartet of key players.
In what shapes as a blow not only for the Devils but also the GDFNL interleague team, key forward Herschelle Carr will miss three weeks with a groin injury.
It’s a similar timeframe for experienced recruit Jarrod Bayliss, who is dealing with a hamstring issue.
Assistant coach Nathen Kenyon and Jacob Kleidon are unavailable.
Brock Cervenka and Jalen Bigham have been promoted after a week in the reserves, while Tom Short and Isiah Bigham will make their first senior appearances of 2025.
North will debut Jordan Bertucci while Charlie Smith has been recalled from the seconds.
They replace Aaron Beecroft and Mark Paramanov.
Off-season recruit Jeremy Ollis will make his first appearance for East Geelong in what looms as a blockbuster Mark Lomas Shield match-up against the Belmont Lions at Winter Reserve.
The former Modewarre captain has been sidelined with a broken thumb.
The Eagles have also been boosted by the return of captain John McIntyre and big man Jacob Sobey.
They replace Caleb Ezard (ankle), Jacob Nolan (unavailable), and Mitch Wright.
The Lions look set to go in unchanged.
Winless Werribee Centrals will welcome back Kai Gomes Pattiyage as the replacement for Harley Kilby ahead of its clash with Inverleigh.
The Hawks welcome back star forward Dalton Grundell at the expense of youngster Zac Heenan.
Bell Post Hill has welcomed back Caleb Bacely, Tim Barton, Zane Jones, and Luke Mann among four changes for its meeting with Thomson at Myers Reserve.
They replace Danny Gray, who has undergone surgery on a broken leg, Daniel Banister, Josh Norman, and assistant coach Andrew Casey.
The Tigers get back Trav McGuire, with Jake Butler and Jack Wilson recalled from the reserves.
Captain Sam Jacka, Regan Kerslake, and Jamie Bach are missing from the team that lost narrowly to the Belmont Lions last week.
Bannockburn and Geelong West have listed one change apiece for their meeting at Victoria Park.
The Tigers have promoted Sam Giles from the reserves in place of Rob Maibaum.
Lara recruit Brodie McCaskill returns for the Giants as the replacement for Noah Craven-Briggs.
Winchelsea will welcome back ruck Zac Herman for its twilight meeting with Anakie at Eastern Reserve.
He replaces Tayne Hewson.
The Roos have lodged four changes.
Jesse Mawson will play his first senior game in 12 months, with Josh Mawson and Rob Cannon returning after missing the win over Geelong West.
Junior product Oscar Clark has been named to make his debut.
Paul Ridout is unlikely to return until after the bye with a back issue, while Blayne Sharp, Jordan Kavanagh, and co-captain Mason Rhodes are unavailable.
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