Caleb Bacely has paid tribute to the role Bell Post Hill has played in his life as he prepares for game 250 when the Panthers meet ladder leader Belmont Lions at Myers Reserve.
Baceley has spent all but two seasons of his football journey at Myers Reserve, coming through the club’s juniors to become a key plank in one of the region’s most dominant eras.
Of the seven premierships Bell Post Hill won in ten grand final appearances from 2008 to 2017, Bacely featured in six, missing the 2016 success after trying his hand at GFNL club Grovedale with teammates Dylan Witney and Beau McNamara.
“I’ve turned from a young boy into a man at the footy club,” Bacely told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“On the field’s one thing, but off the field as well, you develop into a young man, and you’re doing that at the footy club with all your mates and all the supporters and whatnot.
So, it’s definitely more than just footy for me at Myers Reserve.”
Bell Post Hill had mixed news at selection for a crucial clash against the Lions.
Bacely’s premiership teammate Tim Barton, and Sam Harmer are among four inclusions for the fifth-placed Panthers,
However, Felix Jones and Lachie Verschuren will be missing, with Clancy Mackay and Lachie Wilson omitted.
The Lions will be without captain Jak Evans but have welcomed back Lachie Slorach.
Sam Jones, who started the season with South Colac, has been promoted after 18 goals in four games in the reserves.
Inverleigh will be strengthened by the return of hard-edged midfielder Boe Collins and defender Brayden Warren, who will have no time for a break, as the Hawks contend with the potent North Geelong forward line at Keith Barclay Oval.
Collins has been sidelined since the win over Corio in Round 9.
The Magpies have included big man Tom Davis as the replacement for Jorden Bertucci.
Werribee Centrals has named an unchanged team for the first time this season as it looks to claim another scalp when it hosts East Geelong at Galvin Park.
The Centurions upset finals-aspirants Bell Post Hill last week, and will be keen to take down the second-placed Eagles.
East will again be without sharpshooter Zac Smith (calf) and has lost Caleb Lowndes to injury, with Jacob Sobey and Tim Lee unavailable.
They’ve been replaced by Jayden Fanning, Ben Flintoff and Jack Doyle.
Anakie has made six changes, including welcoming back Josh Mawson and Jake Long for its must-win meeting with Thomson at Anakie Reserve.
The Roos have also included Matt Dettman, Blayne Sharp, Robbie Milne, and Michael Crossett.
They replace Alex Gear (injured), Mark Pope, Jet Mills, Declan Robinson, Mitch Caldow, and Luke Roberts.
Corio will be without Jack Green and Jake Kleidon for the remainder of the season as it prepares for a meeting with Bannockburn at Victoria Park.
Green has undergone surgery on a broken arm, while Kleidon has an ankle injury.
The Devils have made three changes for the clash with the Tigers, with Hayden Taylor returning to the under-18s.
Coming into the team are Destyn Burns, Isiah Bigham, and Cooper Hume.
Bannockburn will go in unchanged.
Winchelsea has included Jack Sampi and Luke Henry as it prepares for a winnable match-up with Geelong West at Eastern Reserve.
They replace Mitch Thomas (unavailable) and Luke Foot.
The Giants have lost veteran Michael Leamer to suspension and Riley Seresi-Unsworth to injury, with Lucas Wealands returning to the under-18s.
James Pullan, Kane Sewell, and Matt Farrell are the replacements.
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