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Thomson has been boosted by the inclusion of three members of its 2024 premiership team for its clash with the unbeaten North Geelong at Godfrey Street.
Lucas Boyd, Nick Lynch, and Daniel Mowat have all been named, along with star big man Andrew Jarvis.
They replace the unavailable Regan Kerslake and the omitted trio of Jack Stoneham, Patty Knott, and Jackson Hobbs.
The Tigers sit percentage outside the top five, with a loss to the Magpies likely to mean an elimination final will be the best hope for Lynch’s men if they’re to feature at St Albans Reserve in 2025.
“They’re the benchmark at the moment,” Lynch said of North Geelong.
“We’ll have to be very, very good to beat them.”
Former GWS Giants and Essendon star Dev Smith is unlikely to add his lone appearance in purple and gold until next month.
“He’s pulled up pretty sore on that knee, so it’ll be more of a July thing before Dev rolls out again,” Lynch said.
North Geelong has made three changes.
Star midfielder Rory Desnoy is unavailable, and experienced forward Blake Miller is serving the first match of a three-game suspension, with BJ O’Toole omitted.
Jasper George, Charlie McDonald, and Jordan Bertucci are the inclusions.
Werribee Centrals will enter their crucial clash with Bannockburn at Victoria Park without playing coach Rhyce Prismall.
The veteran suffered a hamstring strain in the win over Winchelsea before the mid-season break.
He hopes to return for next week’s meeting with North Geelong at Keith Barclay Oval.
Werribee VFL-listed midfielder Daly Andrews, who was on loan to Centrals from Lara, has returned to the GFNL club.
After missing the victory over the Blues, GDFNL representative Jack Stephenson returns, Kur Kur is back from a broken leg suffered in Round 1, while Harley Kilby is also available.
Zech De Leon has been omitted.
The Tigers have lost interleague big man Josh Kunjka (scaphoid), Luke Bowdern (ankle), and Sam Giles (corked hip).
They’ve been replaced by Harry Lear, Callum Elliott, and Rory Harding.
Bell Post Hill has been boosted by the return of Tim Barton, Daniel Banister, and Henry Verschuren as it looks to extend its winning streak against Anakie to 43.
The Panthers last lost to the Roos in Round 5, 1998.
Going out of the team that defeated Geelong West before the week off are the suspended Sam Quinn, Harvey Martin (AC joint) and Sam Harmer.
Anakie has made four changes.
Josh Mawson, Jesse Mawson, and Alex Gear are unavailable, with Blayne Sharp omitted.
They’ve been replaced by Brodie Gillett, Michael Crossett, Jordan Wilkinson, and first-game Bryce Hall
East Geelong young gun Ben Crombie will meet a surgeon next week to discuss treatment for an ankle injury suffered in the pre-bye win over Corio.
It forced the Geelong VFL training partner to miss the GDFNL’s thrilling interleague win over Colac and District.
He will be replaced by returning captain John McIntyre for the clash with Geelong West at West Oval.
The Eagles also welcome back Tim Lee, with Jack Doyle omitted.
The Giants welcome back off-season acquisitions Tannar Stone and James Pullan after both missed the Round 8 loss to Bell Post Hill.
Current captain Jordan Huff and former skipper Alex Gubbins have been named for Winchelsea as it prepares for a meeting with grand finalist Belmont Lions at Eastern Reserve.
Brayden O’Hanlon, Riley Berg and Tyler Beasley also return.
They replace Jack Sampi, Fin Kirsopp-Cole, Mitch Thomas, Patrick Dench and Dustin Baker.
The Lions have lost Corey Jarrad to a knee injury suffered against Anakie, while GDFNL representative Brock Mahoney, 2023 best-and-fairest Harry Thompson, and Shaun Jubber are also missing.
Warracknabeal recruit Patrick Lindsay is set to make his Lions senior debut, as is former Bannockburn player Shaun Dell.
Daniel Brockett and Nelson Primmer will play their first senior matches in 12 months,
Corio has named Herschelle Carr for its meeting with Inverleigh at Shell Oval despite the dynamic forward failing to see out the GDFNL’s interleague win over Colac and District.
Carr kicked five goals before a quad issue forced him from the ground during the third quarter.
More to come
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