BEYOND THE BOUNDARY – APRIL 10
North Geelong will begin its quest for consecutive GDFNL flags with 17 of its 2025 premiership team in action against Bannockburn at Victoria Park.
Tom Davis (back) and Jasper George (quad) will be missing due to injury; Noah Bily is unavailable, and Bryce Brockenshire is travelling.
While Osca Riccardi, who has joined WAFL club Peel Thunder, hasn’t been named at this stage, despite reports linking him to playing with the Magpies this week.
Veteran forward Blake Miller, whose 2025 season was ended by injury in Round 8, is among the five changes to the team that toppled East Geelong in last year’s decider.
Boston Riccardi and Brayden Orr, who have crossed from Newtown & Chilwell, Charlie Bowles (Mitta United), and Jack Cambridge, who hasn’t played football since under-18 level with Newtown & Chilwell, are the other inclusions.
Former co-coach Jack Brauman has been named for his first Bannockburn appearance since mid-2023.
The Tigers, who will mark coach Ron Pilgrim’s 500th game as player and/or coach at the club, will also unveil Henry Hawker (Leopold), Tanner Sadler (South Barwon), Tom Gibson (Birchip-Watchem) and former Bell Park duo Jackson Gorman and Willson Mack.
GDFNL – AT SELECTION – ROUND 1
Essendon best-and-fairest Devon Smith will lineup for Thomson as it faces Inverleigh at Godfrey Street.
Smith made one appearance in purple and gold in 2025, helping Thomson to a win over Bannockburn mid-season.
The Tigers, who missed the finals after winning the flag in 2024, have a host of new faces, including returning junior Zach Rochow-O’Toole, who has senior experience at GFNL club Leopold.
Former Torquay duo Roy Dixon and Max Piasente, Noah Hanneysee, who played in the AFL Ireland competition in 2025, and Cooper Judd (Lara) have also been named.
Former Thomson midfielder Zac Plant faces a first-up meeting with his former club after joining the Hawks in the off-season.
Inverleigh welcomes back former coach Adam Donohue following a season at South Colac, while Fin O’Keefe is back from GFNL club Geelong West, Nathan Mayes returns after a season off, and Ethan Floyd has arrived from Birregurra.
Corio has named six new faces for its clash with 2025 runner-up East Geelong at All-in-One Oval.
West Preston-Lakeside trio Cooper Shoebridge, Tom McMahon, and Callum Gibson, Dave Waldron (Old Ivanhoe), Kade Bergen (Rupunyap), and Jay Blackney (Geelong West GFNL) will pull on a Devils guernsey for the first time.
However, St Albans recruit Jimmy Botsaris (knee) is at least a week away, with fellow newcomers Max Roberts and Jack Evans both unavailable.
The Eagles, who will be without Sam Lowe (shoulder), have named three new faces: former Lara captain Sam Purdy, Matt Kasparian (St Albans) and Marley McCombe (St Joseph’s).
Jayden Fanning will make his 100th appearance for the club.
Anakie has suffered a blow on the eve of its battle with the Belmont Lions, with Grovedale recruit Nick Hau withdrawn from the Roos squad with a finger injury.
However, the Roos will have several new faces taking on the Lions, including Waylon Davey (Glenelg/Northern Territory Talent League), Nathan McDonald (Newcomb), and former Lara duo Sam Hoffman and Jackson Francese-Fulton.
Lions newcomers include Pyramid Hill duo Seb Relouw and Steve Gunther, who played with co-coach Brent Vermeulen at St Albans, Christian Farchione (Banyule), Sean Hogan (Birchip-Watchem), and Will Maclean (Henty).
Gun recruit David Handley’s first outing with Bell Post Hill will be at a ground he’s familiar with.
The Panthers travel down Ballarat Road to the newly-named Scaada Stadium for a meeting with Geelong West, with Handley returning to Myers Reserve from the Giants’ GFNL section.
Bell Post Hill has also welcomed back big man Brock Carter, who has spent time in Cairns, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin and Melbourne since last playing in red and blue in 2021.
Ethan Coffey (South Barwon) and former Lara duo Banjo Hickey and Riley Dixon have also been given an early chance to impress.
Stuart Goddard (Traralgon Tyers United) and Matt Hanna (Kyneton) are among the new arrivals at Scaada Stadium
After spending all of 2025 in the reserves, Mitch Beattie and Liam Treacy will make their senior debuts, along with Giants under-18 products Kyden McCaughan and Jack Logan.
Winchelsea and Werribee Centrals will open the new season, bounce scheduled for 1 o’clock.
More to come
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