One ruckman has departed, and another is sidelined as the Belmont Lions prepare for a clash with the improving Anakie at Winter Reserve tomorrow.
Co-coach Andy Walsgott has confirmed Jed Evans was granted a clearance to Kyabram and District League club Stanhope during the week, while interleague squad member Noah Houtsma is battling a hamstring injury that will sideline him until late June.
Walsgott says an injury suffered in the Lions’ last practice match put Evans behind the eight ball.
“He was certainly in the side Round 1, and then he hurt his finger in our last practice game,” Walsgott said.
“And then we went with Noah and Jake Wood, and they’ve just been playing really, really good footy.
“We’re going quite well, in terms of having lost a game yet. So I probably felt those two were deserving of keeping their spots.
“Jed wants to play senior footy, so hats off to him, and he deserves to do that as well.
“And we couldn’t promise him anything in terms of the other two boys’ form.”
Walsgott admits the timing of Houtsma’s injury “couldn’t be worse”.
“We’ll manage that one,” he said. Luckily, we’ve got a bye in there, and he was potentially missing a game at some point after the bye as well.
So this week, and then with a bye and a game he was missing, he might only miss one or two over a four- or five-week span.
Everyone’s got injuries – we’re not the only club, and everyone’s making it work their best, so we’ll do the same.”
After making the best beginning to a GDFNL season in club history last year, following an 8-0 start, the Lions can match that mark tomorrow.
However, Walsgott admits the Roos will provide a significant test.
“I certainly thought Anakie were going to be one of the teams to beat this year and play finals,” he said.
“Some of the results have backed that up.
“I’ve got a very high opinion of Anakie; a very high opinion of their group. And Jake’s a really good coach.
“They’re a tricky match-up. They should have beaten us last year in the second game.”
Veteran forward Ben Evans returns for his first senior outing since the Round 3 win over reigning premier Thomso, while 2023 best-and-fairest Harry Thompson is also back.
However, Barwon Heads recruit Lachie Slorach has joined Houtsma on the sidelines.
Anakie, which is coming off a narrow win over Werribee Centrals, has regained gun forward Oscar Barter, along with Josh and Jesse Mawson.
However, the Roos will be without Jake Long, with Ben Arabit and Brodie Gillett also out of last week’s team.
Werribee Centrals will have access to Werribee VFL-listed Daly Andrews for its must-win meeting with Winchelsea at Galvin Park.
Andrews’ interchange club is Lara in the GFNL, but with the Cats having the bye this week, he has been cleared back to the Centurions for one match.
He is one of three inclusions, along with Brodie Taylor and Tyson Stephens.
They replace the suspended Jack Stephenson, the injured Tate Camilleri, and the omitted Daniel Stoios.
The Blues have lost coach Ben Moloney, Alex Hackett, and Riley Berg to injury, while former captain Alex Gubbins and Jackson Timms are unavailable.
Cassidy Parish and Reuben James return from injury, with Dustin Baker and Matt Gillespie to make their first senior appearances of the season.
Thomson has listed former GWS Giants and Essendon star Devon Smith as an out for its trip to Inverleigh.
Josh Boreland is also out of the team that defeated Bannockburn by two points last week, with Regan Kerslake and the recalled Jack Wilson the inclusions.
The Hawks welcome back off-season acquisition Guy O’Keefe at the expense of Ethan Clohesy.
Unbeaten North Geelong has been boosted by the inclusion of Cooper Vaughan, Johnny Fazio, and Blake Miller for its meeting with Bannockburn at Keith Barclay Oval.
They replace Noah Biley, Juanito Ramos, and Zackary Baker.
The Tigers welcome back Geelong Falcon Ryan Perkins and Josh Kunjka, with Joel Devlin and Dylan Kollegger out of the team that lost to Thomson.
Geelong West has named Matt Sondergeld, Gus Fraatz, and Jarra Blackney-Noter as it prepares to take on Bell Post Hill at Myers Reserve.
They replace Tannar Stone, Zach Rowarth, and Kane Sewell.
East Geelong has recalled Lara recruit Galen Munari as the replacement for the unavailable Jacob Sobey ahead of its clash with the struggling Corio at Richmond Crescent.
More to come
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