Paul Lynch has labelled the GDFNL’s forward line “our most dangerous part of the ground” ahead of tomorrow’s interleague meeting with Colac and District at Winchelsea’s Eastern Reserve.
For the second consecutive year, the Raiders will do battle with the CDFNL at the under-25 level, with the hosts keen to retain the Hickey-Whitley Shield after a seven-point win last year.
“I think we’ve got exceptional smalls, obviously with Boston (Riccardi) and Carmelo Saliba and ‘Vaughany’ (Cooper Vaughan),” Lynch told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“I think that’s probably our most dangerous area that they’re going to have to worry about.
“And obviously having Herschelle (Carr) and (Cam) Primmer and (Ben) McPherson and these type of guys playing as that semi-tall, I think we’ve got a pretty good stock of forward.
“So that’s the sort of area we’ll try to expose them.”
The GDFNL will also be strong defensively, despite 2025 captain Toby Bennett, who won the Sid Jones Medal as best-on-ground, departing the competition.
“We’ve probably got a couple of guys we’ll push back behind the foot; Maybe the types of (Rhys) Ginn from Bannockburn and maybe Ben Mulvahil,” Lynch said.
“(Will) Stoney will play behind the footy as well.
“And also (Daniel) Harms from Anakie, who’s come into the competition this year.
“‘Harmsy’ looks real good. He played us against the other week against Thomson and would have had it 30 times off halfback.
“He’s a good size. So those three plus a couple of other ones will be our tools, and we’ll just go from there.”
In the month the group has been together, Lynch has put some structures in place to combat the CDFNL, which will be coached by former Colac Tigers star Kane Leersen, who played under Lynch at the GFNL club.
“I know Kaneo’s pretty keen to win this year, so we’ve put a little bit more time in than we did last year,” Lynch said.
“To be honest, I think across the board, everyone’s playing pretty much the same type of footy… everyone’s pressing the ground, that sort of stuff.”
Lynch was unable to consider former Geelong rookie Osca Riccardi (foot), East Geelong gun Austin Mulvahil, or Winchelsea ball magnet Indi Parish.
“We’ve probably got seven or eight injuries, which is disappointing,” he said.
“But I suppose that’s footy, isn’t it? You can’t do much about it.”
11 of the league’s 12 clubs are represented, with only Geelong West not featuring.
12 of last year’s team have earned selection.
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