As it prepares for arguably its biggest home-and-away game since the final round of the 2015 season, Belmont Lions co-coach Brent Vermeulen says the club’s “week-by-week” approach will continue.
The Lions face East Geelong at Richmond Crescent tomorrow (Saturday) in a battle for the Mark Lomas Shield and a chance to go a game clear on top of the GDFNL ladder with seven rounds to play.
It’s a position not even the most optimistic of Lions’ supporters expected their team to find themselves in.
Their 2015 elimination final appearance was the club’s only final since winning its only senior premiership in 2007.
“We know that the side we’ve got in – maybe from the outside looking in – might not look that good,” Vermeulen told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“But from the inside looking out, we trust every single one of our players to play their role and show up on the day.”
The Eagles have lost Sam King to a groin injury, while Jayden Fanning is unavailable.
They’ve been replaced by Ben Mulvahil and Alex McDonald.
The Lions have made five changes.
Josh Wilson will play his first senior game since Round 1, and Brock Mahoney will play his first match since Round 6.
Vice-captain Shaun McNamara and Andy Wylie are back after missing the win over Bell Post Hill, while Scott Michell’s been recalled from the reserves.
Ollie Mayman and Steve Phillips are unavailable, Nelson Primmer will miss through injury, and Jesse Stapleton has been omitted.
Nathan Mayes will play his first senior game of the season among three inclusions for reigning premier Inverleigh.
The Hawks, who will face premiership contender Werribee Centrals at Inverleigh Reserve, have also welcomed back Mayes’ premiership teammate Jake Templeton and Anglesea recruit Daniel Midolo.
The Centurions will make at least four changes.
Josh Sutton, Bryce Linehan-Cunningham, and Mar Gattek are the confirmed replacements for Marc Yates, Keegan Gilbert (hamstring), Connor McKenzie (overseas), and Harley Kilby, who has commitments with VFL club Werribee.
Curtis Young (concussion), Dean Muir (hamstring) and Will Stoney go out of the team that narrowly defeated North Geelong last week.
Key forwards Herschelle Carr and Brayden Cotter are back for Corio, which is celebrating 50 years of existence against arch-rival North Geelong at Shell Oval.
Carr, who has kicked 35 goals from nine games after crossing from North Shore, missed last week’s loss to Bannockburn.
Isiah Bigham and Tom Short have been squeezed out of the team.
The Magpies have listed debutant Jaxon Mallett and Bryce Brockenshire as inclusions for injured duo Jhye Kenna and Harry Cornelius.
Boe Collins will return from a six-week suspension among three changes for Bell Post Hill ahead of its clash with Thomson at Myers Reserve.
The Panthers have also included Sam Quinn and Tyler Edwards.
They replace injured trio Ben Tekin (soreness), Tyran Lynch (ribs) and Will Kerrins (shoulder).
The Tigers have lost veteran Jackson Macleod and Mitch Hodgson to calf problems, with their spots taken by Jeremy Cain and Tom Major.
Bannockburn has been boosted by the return of captain Tristan Battaglia and former Leopold star Rob Maibaum for its meeting with Geelong West at West Oval.
They replace Reece Conca, who has duties with AFL club Melbourne, and Brayden Viccars.
Winchelsea will take an unchanged team into its meeting with Anakie at Anakie Reserve.
The home team has been forced into four changes.
Jordan Wilkinson (suspended), Jordan Kavanagh (knee), Sean Sim (unavailable) and James Vandenberg are out of the team that narrowly lost to Thomson last week.
Jett Mills returns from injury, with Matt Dettmann, Kyle Connor-Kent and Mitch Caldow promoted from the reserves.
