Injuries have forced Thomson into five changes for its match-up with Winchelsea at Eastern Reserve.
The reigning premier was already planning to be without captain Sam Jacka, Jay Diffey, Ben Kamaric, and Jamie Bach after all four failed to see out last week’s loss to Bell Post Hill.
What Paul Lynch wasn’t planning was defender Dan Mowat injuring his quad at training last night.
All five are unlikely to be seen until finals, if the Tigers can hold onto fifth spot.
They join the likes of Darcy Troop, Lucas Boyd and Billie Smedts on the injury list, on top of the knee injuries that sidelined Jacob Knight and Steve Salajan.
Premiership duo Jackson Macleod and Jed Hanneysee are among the inclusions to take on the Blues.
Rhys Humpage will make his debut, Caleb Eden his first senior appearance in more than 12 months, and Jake Butler has been recalled from the reserves.
Winchelsea has lost Caleb Brown (AC joint), Tyler Beasley (knee) and Lachie Gemmill (shin) from the team that pushed Anakie last week.
They’ve been replaced by Jack Symmons, Jude Coverdale, and Alex Hackett.
David van Allitt and Nick Sheriff highlight six inclusions for Belmont Lions ahead of their meeting with Inverleigh at Winter Reserve.
The Lions also regain Shaun McNamara and Josh Wilson, with Shaun Jubber and Patrick Lindsay recalled from the reserves.
However, injury has sidelined Brock Mahoney, Charlie Steel, Andy Wylie, and Stephen Phillips.
Nelso Primmer is unavailable, while Angus Quinn has been omitted.
The Hawks have replaced Mason Dickson (broken arm) with debutant Dylan Scoble, who joined the club from Moyston-Willaura in the Mininera and District League.
East Geelong has lost gun defender Jack Dickson to a minor hamstring injury ahead of its mouthwatering match-up with Bell Post Hill at Myers Reserve.
However, Will Hough and Jacob Nolan return, with Ben Flintoff omitted.
Werribee Centrals will debut under-18 captain Zac Pace when it hosts Corio at Galvin Park.
Pace kicked seven goals last week in a big win by the Centurions over Inverleigh.
He replaces the unavailable Regan Vesty.
Centrals have also announced the re-signing of coach Rhyce Prismall for the 2026 season, with captain Michael Culliver to take on an assistant coaching role.
Bannockburn will debut Lachie Osborne and Ryan Wentworth in its clash with Anakie at Victoria Park.
Wentworth, who returned to the club this year after a decade at North Shore, is the son of multiple premiership Tiger Paul.
Bannockburn, which has announced the re-signing of coach Ron Pilgrim for a fifth season, welcome back Luke Bowdern.
However, Ayden Osborne will be missing with a thumb injury. Brodie Harding and Lachie Battaglia have been omitted.
The Roos have named Michael Crossett at the expense of Alex Gear.
More to come
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