Come just after 4:30 pm on Saturday, August 1, Bannockburn should have a clearer picture of whether it will make a quick return to the GDFNL finals.
After failing to feature in the top five for the first time since 2012 last year, whether the Tigers will feature on the vast expanses of St Albans Reserve will be determined by the next five rounds.
Bannockburn, which is among four teams with a 7-4 win-loss record, sits fifth on the ladder but is only one win off second spot.
The Tigers’ challenging month starts with reigning premier North Geelong, which is also 7-4, the unbeaten Werribee Centrals, third-placed Belmont Lions, seventh-placed Bell Post Hill, and fourth-placed East Geelong.
Pilgrim says Bannockburn is embracing the challenging month ahead.
“It will be a good test to see where we’re at and see if we’re good enough,” Pilgrim said.
“I’d rather finish a year playing the top teams that you could be playing in September than having an easy walk-in, so to speak.”
North Geelong had the better of an inaccurate Bannockburn in Round 1 at Victoria Park, which started a 10-match run in which the Tigers kicked more behinds than goals.
It was only in last week’s hammering of Thomson that Pilgrim’s men had the radar on target, kicking 26.11.
“There’s been a few games earlier in the year that cost us because of that,” he said.
“It all gets back to where the forwards are leading. You’ve got to give yourself the best chance of kicking a goal.
“We’ve looked at a bit of that now in our training that we want to try and get it in the corridor more so.”
One of those forwards who will be hoping to benefit from a more direct approach is Henry Hawker.
The Leopold recruit has kicked 28 goals, including two hauls of six, and despite missing three games, sits second in the competition for marks and contested marks, and third for marks inside 50.
“I think most people know now that he’s a seriously good player,” Pilgrim said.
“Last week it was a bit wet, and the guy that played on him did a pretty good job, but he still kicked four, and he would have had 10 marks, mate.
“Getting to St Albans, you need somebody who can play centre half-forward or across the half-forward line there.
“Leopold only got to see him for four weeks, but he could walk into any GFL side now.
“He’s definitely going to be a key for us if we make the finals.”
Bannockburn will be without Pilgrim’s former coaching partner, Jack Brauman, and gun recruit, Jayme Rekers.
Brauman and Rekers, both based on the Gold Coast, are tackling Gold Coast Marathon events this weekend.
Brauman is running the full marathon, while Rekers will run the half-marathon.
Pilgrim expects both to feature heavily in the closing stages of the season.
“They’ve committed to play the final six games, which will be fantastic,” he said.
North Geelong has named Newtown & Chilwell recruit Harry Jones to make his senior debut among four inclusions.
The Magpies also welcome back experienced defender Paddy Cleary, with Sof Florio and Dylan Fisher recalled from the reserves.
They replace co-captain Zac Schwennesen, Noah Penny, and Tom Davis, who are facing at least a month on the sidelines, while Cooper Pasque is in the concussion protocol.
Unbeaten Werribee Centrals (1st, 11-0) has been forced into two changes for its mouthwatering match-up with Winchelsea (2nd, 8-3) at Symal Oval.
The Centurions, who narrowly avoided a shock loss to Anakie last week, will be without Ethan Gibson (concussion protocol) and Lara recruit Jake Marshall (unavailable).
However, Kai Gomes Pattiyage and Max Murdock return.
The Blues have lost midfield gun Cassidy Parish to a hamstring injury, while Sam Adams is unavailable.
They’ve been replaced by the recalled duo of Noah Harvey and Ollie Manhncke.
Inverleigh (8th, 5-6) has suffered a blow in its fight to stay in the final race after losing star recruit Ethan Floyd to a season-ending knee injury.
Scans have confirmed the gun midfielder has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Floyd suffered the same injury to his right knee when playing with Colac and District club Birregurra in 2023.
The Hawks will welcome back veteran Adam Donohue for the must-win clash with the struggling Thomson (10th, 2-9) at Fortis Foundations Oval.
However, Nathan Mayes, Boe Collins, and Dan Grozdanovski are all unavailable.
Joining Donhoue among the inclusions are recalled forward Noah Moore and debutants Will Slatter and Dan Carlon.
Slatter, who played two reserves games for Belmont Lions last year, hails from Horsham Saints.
Carlton is a product of Inverleigh’s under-18 program.
Former coach Scott Frangos isn’t the player to call time on their days at Geelong West (12th, 0-11), with Daniel Craven also announcing his retirement.
While Frangos has been cleared to VAFA club Prahran, Craven has hung up the boots after 131 senior matches across the Giants GDFNL and GFNL outfits and Geelong West-St Peter’s.
Also missing from the team that lost to the Belmont Lions in Round 11 for this week’s trip to Myers Reserve and a meeting with Bell Post Hill (7th, 7-4), are injured quartet Mick Leamer, Nick Butters, Zac Rowarth, and Daniel Pollard.
Butters is facing the prospect of missing the rest of the season, with the Giants awaiting the results of scans on a knee issue.
They’ve been replaced by the returning Stu Goddard and Kane Sewell, recalled trio Cooper Hardy, Stirling Keane, and Tom Richmund, and GDFNL senior debutant Bodhi Black.
The under-18s eligible Black made played a GFNL senior match last year.
Bell Post Hill will be without big man Brock Carter and defender Daniel Banister, who are both battling soreness, while Matt Purnell, Liam Meyrich, and Hayden Baker return to the reserves.
However, Tannar Stone, Josh Norman, and Renn Lovitt are among the five inclusions.
Matthew Hogan has been recalled from the reserves, and Toby Osburn will make his first senior appearance since making his debut in the last round of 2025.
East Geelong (4th, 7-4) welcomes back Galen Munari as it prepares to host Corio (11th, 1-10) at Auswide Plumbing & Civil Oval.
He replaces Jacob Nolan.
The Devils have lodged three forced changes.
Hayden Taylor, Hayden Burns and Nathan Smith will all miss through injury. Taylor and Burns have knee issues, while Smith is battling an AC joint issue.
They’ve been replaced by the returning Blake Natoli-West and Jacob Kleidon and the recalled Buckley Weber, who will make his second senior appearance.
Lachie Slorach returns, and Seb Relouw and Jesse Stapleton have been recalled from the reserves as Belmont Lions (3rd, 8-3) made three changes for its meeting with Anakie (9th, 3-8) at Winter Reserve.
They replace Will Pelham, James Beasley and Steve Gunther.
Gunther is serving a two-match suspension for an incident in last week’s win over Geelong West.
The Roos have lost Jayden Davey to St Kilda VFL duty, with Jack Sutherland and Robbie Law also missing from the team, which pushed the unbeaten Werribee Centrals to four points.
Grovedale recruit Nick Hau will make his debut, Mitch Gavin returns after missing the past two matches, and Riley van Dyke has been recalled from the reserves.
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