BEYOND THE BOUNDARY – MAY 6 – JOHN McINTYRE (EAST GEELONG)
East Geelong captain John McIntyre says tomorrow’s match-up with Bannockburn will provide last year’s grand finalists with another insight into where they sit in the competition’s pecking order.
The Eagles sit third on the GDFNL ladder after the opening month of the season, with big wins over Winchelsea, Geelong West, and Corio.
Their only blemish is a 23-point Anzac Day loss to grand final conqueror North Geelong at Keith Barclay Oval – a contest they trailed by less than a goal early in time-on of the final term.
“It’s still pretty early days,” McIntyre told the Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“We’ve seen Winch knock off Belmont, and Belmont knock off North, and North knock off us, and us knock off Winch, so… it’s good luck sort of picking.
“We’ll learn a little bit more, I guess, when we play ‘Banno’ this week.
“I think it’s going to be a bit of a logjam again with all those sides capable of beating everyone on their day.”
Despite Bannockburn’s lowly finish, both meetings in 2025 were tight, with East escaping Victoria Park with a one-point victory in Round 12.
“They gave us two really tough games last year; we had to come from behind in both games, and particularly the one out at ‘Banno’,” McIntyre said.
“I think we won with the last kick of the day, and it was probably a pretty lucky umpiring decision.
“They were better than us then – they should have won that day.
“They’ve got a lot of guys in now that I don’t know a lot about. They’ve recruited pretty well from what I’ve heard.
“(We) don’t exactly know what to expect, but we expect them to be good.”
East has made two changes for the clash, losing Jack Beardsell (calf) and Jude Payne (foot) to injury.
They’ve been replaced by Ross Symonds and Jayden Fanning, who missed last week’s win over Winchelsea.
Belmont Lions have been forced into two changes ahead of their clash with the unbeaten Werribee Centrals at Winter Reserve.
Seb Relouw and Sean Hogan will be sidelined with minor injuries, replaced by Charlie Steel and Thomson recruit Jake Butler.
The Centurions have lost Daryl Chesterman to suspension, with recruit Kristian Adorno making his first appearance for the club.
Inverleigh will be without premiership player Nathan Mayes (soreness) for its meeting with Winchelsea at Fortis Foundations Oval (Inverleigh Reserve).
He’s been replaced by Cooper Sharrock for his first senior appearance of the season.
Bell Post Hill will be boosted by the inclusion of Dan Banister, Andrew Casey, and Josh Norman for the clash with North Geelong at Myers Reserve.
Sam Harmer, Tyler Edwards and Liam Meyrich have been squeezed out.
The Magpies will welcome back premiership pair Tom Davis and Luke Parker, replacing co-captain Zac Schwennesen (back) and Corey Ellmer, who is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines with a finger issue.
Anakie has lost James Vandenberg to suspension and Jordy Wilkinson to an ankle injury, among three changes for its match-up with Corio at All In One Services Oval.
The Roos have also omitted Luke Roberts, with co-captain Mason Rhodes, Kyle Eibl and Ollie McLachlan returning.
Brayden Cotter has been recalled for the Devils, replacing the unavailable Blake Ash.
Thomson will welcome back former GWS and Essendon star Devon Smith and Kane Higgins for its meeting with Geelong West at Scaada Stadium.
But the Tigers will be without Alex Anticev, who is unavailable.
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