Corio co-coach Darren Bennett expects his emotions to get the better of him when the final siren sounds on tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) clash with Geelong West at West Oval.
One of the key people responsible for returning the Devils to respectability in the GDFNL during a coaching stint that started in late 2018, Bennett will hand over sole responsibility to son Joel for the 2025 season.
Despite announcing his decision to step down last month, Bennett will experience reality around 4:40 p.m.
“To be honest, I think it’s going to be pretty tough,” Bennett told the Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“There hasn’t been much fanfare; we’ve gone along as normal, pretty much.
“She’ll probably hit after the final siren, I’d imagine, on Saturday.”
Despite being unable to achieve the aim he set when he took on the role, tomorrow is squarely focused on beating the Giants to avoid claiming back the wooden spoon.
“You’ve got to set goals, and my goal was to get the club out of the bottom three, which it’s pretty much been for the last 14-odd years,” Bennett said.
“That was my aim, but we didn’t get there.
“I definitely don’t want to finish on the bottom.
“And, unfortunately, I’m up against ‘Franga’ (Geelong West coach Scott Frangos), and I don’t want to do it to him either.”
While the win column hasn’t filled as Bennett hoped, he says the club’s success is more than just what happens at 2 p.m. on a Saturday.
“It’s the community. Our home games now, there’s a lot of people in our community that get out.
“There’s a lot of people in our area that float between our games and North Shore’s game – the home games – because they can’t get out to other grounds.
“It’s pretty important to the community, and seeing a lot of people back at the footy, it’s really pleasing.”
The Devils have made two changes for the clash, which will decide the “winner” of the wooden spoon.
Jack Green and Jacob Kleidon are unavailable, replaced by Logan Dixon and Steve Saddington.
For Saddington, it’s his first senior game of the year.
The Giants have lodged five changes, with Brayden Mitchell, Justin Carey, Harry Fraser, Sam Edwards, and Riley Croft all returning.
They’ve replaced Alex Hann, Lachlan Frawley, Thomas Jenkins, Brad Storm, and Darby Davidson.
GDFNL: AT SELECTION – ROUND 18
Inverleigh will welcome back Kieran McNally and retirement-bound Mick Grozdanovski but has lost youngsters Noah Sneskov and Jarvis Miles to injury for its clash with Anakie at Anakie Reserve.
A win for the Hawks will guarantee an elimination final meeting with Thomson for last year’s premiers.
Qualifying final-bound Werribee Centrals will debut under-18 forward Tyla Hanscomb in their final-round clash with Thomson at Godfrey Street.
The Centurions have made seven changes, with captain Daryl Chesterman, Jack Stephenson, Kai Gomes Pattiayage, and Max Murdock returning.
Hanscomb’s under-18 teammate Joel Croswell has also been included along with Damian Williams for his first senior game in two years,
Centrals have lost Michael Culliver to a hamstring injury and Ryan Dutson to a concussion.
Paddy Daley and Josh MacDonald have been rested, and Brodie Taylor, Luke Speziale, and Ryan Young have been omitted.
With an elimination final locked in, the Tigers have rested defender Steve Salajan and forward duo Daniel Freeman and Jacob Knight.
Mitch Hodgson (soreness) and Logan Mitchell (ankle) will also be missing.
However, they’re all expected to be right for the elimination final.
Jordan Camm, Nick Lynch, Daniel Mowat and Darcy Troop return, while Jayden Spiteri and Will Bourke have been promoted from the reserves.
For Bourke, it’s his first game at senior level since Round 6.
Belmont Lions have managed Jakob Steel and Noah Houtsma, while Ben Evans and Matt Ludbrook are unavailable for the meeting with North Geelong at Keith Barclay Oval.
Finn Guiney-White has been omitted.
Stephen Phillips, Nick Sherriff, Ben McPherson, Jed Evans, and Harrison Thompson return after missing last week’s win over Bannockburn.
The Magpies, who need to upset the Lions and have Bannockburn and Inverleigh lose to sneak into fifth spot, welcome back big man Blake Miller for Aaron Best (calf).
Star big man Kieran Fulton and talented youngsters Ryan Perkins and Leigham Elzinga are among the six inclusions for Bannockburn ahead of its must-win meeting with the much-improved Bell Post Hill at Victoria Park.
For Perkins, it’s his first senior game since breaking his wrist in the Anzac Day clash with Inverleigh.
The Tigers also welcome back Jack Henderson and Lachie Battaglia, while Shaun Altmann will make his debut after 46 games in the reserves.
They replace the injured Rob Maibaum (calf), Rory Harding and Sam Giles, who return to the under-18s, Zac Justin and Brodie Harding.
In Justin Tarr’s final game as senior coach of the Panthers, club great Adrian Fantella returns at the expense of Tyran Lynch.
Minor premier East Geelong has been strengthened by the return of Jack Beardsell, Sam Lowe and Caleb Lowndes for its trip to Winchelsea.
The Eagles will be without Will Hough (unavailable), while Jack Doyle and Ben Flintoff have been dropped.
The Blues have made five changes, including welcoming back Fin Kirsopp-Cole for his 50th game and Jarrod Winzer for his final game with the club.
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