While the rest of the local football world was questioning what impact the loss of half of its 2025 grand final would have, St Joseph’s was more concerned with what it could do with the players that remained and a few handy recruits.
And it’s fair to say that as Joeys prepares for their return meeting with Leopold, at Memorial Park tomorrow, which marks the halfway point of both clubs’ home-and-away seasons, some of those questions have been answered.
A win over the Lions, who it dismantled by 91 points at Lorne on Easter Saturday, will improve St Joseph’s record to 6-3 and have it well positioned for – at worst – an elimination final berth.
Big man Ed McCoy was aware of the doubts, but he’s told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast that he was confident the Joeys would still be in the mix come September.
“As much as we’ve lost a fair few, there’s so much young talent that has been able to come up and start to play a role for us,” he said.
“Ryan Connolly has kind of stepped into this midfield role where he’s able to get plenty of the footy when he needs to, but then also shut down really quality midfielders that have been in the league for a while.
“And then you’ve got blokes coming through that just kind of popped up as well.
“Riley Aquilina, for example, was probably going to be at Falcons, we thought.
“We weren’t sure if we were going to see him all year. And then he’s played two games in the last two weeks that have been unbelievable.
“I think it’s just young blokes like that, who probably should have been playing senior footy last year, but are now just able to come up and then play more of that role player role that we actually really need in the team.
“I really like how it’s going to look. I can’t see why we’re not going to be able to be contending, but we’ll see how that plays out.”
St Joseph’s has won four of its past five outings after being on the end of a record Anzac Day loss against South Barwon.
Not surprisingly, Joeys improved performance, which has included wins over fellow 2025 finalists Bell Park and Colac, has coincided with McCoy’s return.
The Torquay product missed the opening three rounds after suffering a broken leg during an off-season trip to Japan, an injury that had some in the medical profession thinking he wouldn’t play at all in 2026.
“As soon as I got back to Australia, I saw a doctor straight away to get all the scans… and he said, ‘Oh mate. You won’t be back playing footy until mid-2027,” McCoy said.
“Then I saw a surgeon and the surgeon said, ‘Look, we’ll aim for Round 10’.
“And then doing all the rehab and stuff, it got to Round 2, and it was like, ‘Well, mate, you’re full training. Let’s look at getting you on the road back to playing.”
McCoy, who has a train-on position with Geelong’s VFL team, who helped him with his rehab, has barely skipped a beat since his return.
He is averaging 33 hitouts per game, fifth overall in the GFNL, of which 8.4 per game are to advantage, behind only Newtown & Chilwell’s Cam Wilkinson (11.0) and Leopold’s Kyle Bumpstead (10.5).
Against Zach Zdybel last week, the Colac co-captain had the edge in hitouts (43-40) and disposals (16-11).
However, McCoy’s disposal efficiency in less-than-ideal conditions was 64 per cent compared to the star Tigers’ 19 per cent.
“Last year, he absolutely towelled me up down at Colac,” McCoy said. “That was when I was 10 kilos lighter.
“I thought on the weekend I was able to match that a lot better.
“He certainly still got plenty of the footy as he’s always going to do, but it was a good experience to have.”
Joeys will welcome back former captain Al Hickey and the reliable Zac Knights. Jai and Max Adams have been omitted.
For Knghts, it will be his 50th senior game.
Leopold has lodged two changes, with Jed Henderson and Harry Morphet returning in place of Mason Williams (Geelong VFL) and Tait Lunnon-Johnson, who has entered the concussion protocol.
Premiership trio Harry McMahon, Bayley Cockerill and Frank Fopiani medallist Keidan Rayner are among four inclusions for the unbeaten St Mary’s ahead of a blockbuster clash with South Barwon at Anthony Costa Oval.
The Saints have also named Charlie Vallelonga for his first senior appearance of the season.
McMahon will join brother Damien and father Kevin in the 100 club at Anthony Costa Oval.
They replace Ned McElroy, Hamish Tana, Harry Segrave, and Noah Biggs.
The Swans have lost Ethan Borys (ankle) and Jonty Broughton (back), with Wil Bennett and Taylor Mulraney replacing them.
Newtown & Chilwell will welcome back key forward Mitch Dodos as it looks to bounce back from its first loss of the season when it faces St Albans at St Albans Reserve.
He takes the place of the unavailable Liam Nash.
The Supersaints will have access to West Perth big man Matt McKenzie for the second time this season, while Hamish Andrews is available with the Geelong Falcons having a bye.
They replace Blake Hodgson (ankle) and Harrison Cockerell.
Colac will have access to star Darcy Lang for its crucial clash with Bell Park at Australian Lamb Company Stadium.
The Tigers have also included the experienced Simpkin brothers, Jonathan and Lachie.
Leigh Gorwell is among the confirmed outs.
The Dragons welcome back Eli Pearce for his first outing since the Round 4 win over Leopold. He replaces Jonty Scott.
Geelong West has recalled Oscar Leavold and Cooper Frost ahead of a meeting with Grovedale at Burdoo Reserve.
They replace Tom Handley and Cam Edwards.
Leigh Ellis will return from suspension for the Tigers, while Cooper Leach, Jack Caia and Jack Cook have also been included.
They replace omitted quartet Ryan Collins, Jacob Gniel, Ned Mahoney, and Fin Kirsopp-Cole.
More to come
X: @krockfootball
