Geelong West will look to put a turbulent week behind it when it hosts premiership fancies Newtown & Chilwell at Scaada Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Giants farewelled coach Chris Browne on Tuesday, just 11 matches into a three-year contract, with former Portarlington caretaker coach Nathan Storer to take the reins for the remainder of the season.
West captain Max Kelly says the playing group won’t dwell on what’s taken place.
“It’s obviously been an interesting week for the club,” he told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“Things change pretty quickly in footy. But, as (a) first-year captain, you just have to deal with things as they come, and sometimes they come pretty quickly.
But I think we’re all remaining pretty positive.
“Tuesday night was fine, and we’re going to move on pretty quickly.”
Despite seven consecutive losses before the league-wide bye, Kelly says West is keen to test itself against one of the competition’s best.
“The year probably hasn’t gone exactly to plan with results,” he said. “You do have injuries, and you have unavailabilities, which is never always an excuse.
“But I think the last seven weeks have been pretty testing and really tested our depth in terms of what we’ve had available.
“But I think the boys know that results will come, and we’ve just got to stick to it.
“Over the next few weeks, we’ll have some players coming back that will allow us to be more competitive in these games, particularly against the top sides.”
Storer will lead the Giants alongside fellow assistant coach Wade Chapman, with Garry Hocking continuing in a mentoring role.
“Following Chris Browne’s decision to step away from the role, it was important that we provided stability and maintained momentum within our football program,” Giants football boss Tony Costa said.
“Nathan has the respect of our playing group and coaching staff, and we are confident he will do an outstanding job leading the team for the remainder of the season.”
West has made five changes for the clash with the Towners.
Geelong VFL-listed Tanner Lewis, Cats train-on August Stelma, Falcon Will Nicholls and the talented Brady Smigowski return, while Ned Duyker will make his first senior appearance of the season.
Gun Lachie Handley will miss the rest of the season with a hand injury, while Corey Leamer, Cameron Edwards, Duwahar Jock and Jai Robinson have been omitted.
Newtown & Chilwell will be without defender Oscar Murdoch, with Jett Modola returning.
Chris Jansen will make his first senior appearance since last year’s grand final when St Mary’s (1st, 10-1) meets South Barwon (3rd, 8-3).
The Saints have made four handy inclusions for the second meeting between the clubs in just over a month.
Joining Jansen are fellow premiership stars Bayley Cockerill, Charlie Lang, and Paddy Dowling.
They replace Noah Biggs, Ben Berry, Nick Dowling, and Mackenzie Butcher.
Grovedale (8th, 4-7) has suffered several injury blows as it faces the somewhat daunting task of beating Colac (6th, 6-5) at Australian Lamb Company Stadium.
Will Ford (syndesmosis) and Jack Kelly (knee) are unlikely to play again in 2026, while Jak Tute (concussion), Tom Gillett, Leigh Ellis and Bailey McDonald are also sidelined.
Nathan Kreuger will be on VFL duty with Geelong.
Veteran big Ryan Abbott and midfielder Eli Edwards return, with Nathan Vassallo, Ryan Collins, Grady Murrant, Paul Roberts Potter, and Ned Mahoney recalled from the reserves.
Colac has named midfielder Jarrod Walters for his first senior match since suffering a serious shoulder injury in last year’s qualifying final.
Ted Buchanan will make his debut, with Lachie Simpkin (calf) sidelined and Jack Slater omitted.
Leopold (7th, 5-6) will be without the services of pre-bye hero Jay Dahlhaus for its Mick Thompson Cup clash with St Albans (9th, 2-8) at St Albans Reserve.
Dahlhaus was recalled to VFL club Werribee last week after he kicked six goals in the upset win over the previously unbeaten St Mary’s in his first match back from a lacerated liver suffered only six weeks prior.
Archie Eichler has been recalled from the reserves.
The Supersaints, who have re-signed coach Rick Munn until the end of 2029, have made five changes.
WA-based big man Matt McKenzie is available, with Zac Larkins, Blake Hodgson, and Hamish Andrews returning, and Declan Barbary recalled from the reserves.
They replace Sam Cunningham (illness), Hunter Dickson, Ben Wolfenden, Tom Caudullo, and Ethan Hobbs.
North Shore (11th, 0-11) will be without captain Jacob Sammut and the experienced Jordan Purcell as it battles Bell Park (5th, 7-4) on Past Players’ Day at Windsor Park.
St Joseph’s (4th, 8-4) has the bye.
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