After being sidelined for the second half of the season and missing Newtown & Chilwell’s finals campaign in 2025, co-captain Luke Maddock has returned to full fitness as the Towners commence their quest to end a 40-year premiership drought.
Maddock will run out against archrival St Joseph’s on Saturday for his first competitive match in just shy of 10 months.
He tore the medial collateral ligament in both knees in a marking contest in a win over Colac on June 21, spending nearly two months with his legs in a brace.
“The knees are all healed up, which has been great,” Maddock told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“I’ve actually had an injury-free pre-season, which has been nice.
“I think the MCLs were almost a blessing in disguise. (It) gave me a year to reset the body; a few other little niggling injuries that I had in the past have been shaken.”
Maddock made a surprise move forward in 2024, kicking 31 goals from 15 games, while on the day his 2025 season ultimately ended, he had three goals to his name.
It’s a flexibility that Newtown & Chilwell coach Steve Johnson will have the potential to tap this year.
Maddock expects that with the arrival of Dan Lowther (Lara) and Nick Jephson (Kyabram), his time in the forward half of the ground will be limited.
However, with Lowther on VFL duty with Richmond, he could be called on to impact the scoreboard tomorrow (Friday).
“It’s been nice to learn that craft the last couple of years, although very injury-riddled,” he said.
“I’ll just be used where the team needs me on the day.
“I expect to probably start down back and get into the season.
“We’ve been lucky enough to recruit a few really good key forwards.
“So, to start off with, I’d say I’d be key back with… a bit of a flexibility role this year, which is nice.”
Newtown & Chilwell will unveil recruits Nick Jephson (Kyabram), who has overcome a shoulder injury, and Taj McMillan (North Ballarat).
The match-up with last year’s beaten grand finalists also marks the return of Blake Sutterby from Geelong Amateur.
However, the Eagles couldn’t consider Geelong VFL-listed Ben Pennisi, who is awaiting a scan on a knee injury suffered in last week’s practice match against Old Geelong.
St Joseph’s has made one change from its win over Leopold, with Ryan Connolly replacing Zac Knights (unavailable).
Experienced trio Fraser Fort, Jack Driver and Lachie Noble, and impressive young defender Tom Peirce will strengthen South Barwon for its meeting with Bell Park at McDonald Reserve.
Driver and Noble both featured in the reserves last week.
Paddy Kelly returns to Geelong’s VFL team, with youngsters Max Mawson, Taj Hinkley, and Wil Bennett all omitted.
Recruits Tyler Norton (Wangaratta) and Darcy Melksham (Corowa-Rutherglen) have been named to make their debut for the Dragons.
Grovedale will be without the services of Cooper Whyte and Nathan Kreuger when it faces St Albans at Burdoo Reserve.
Whyte returns to Werribee, while Kreuger will make his first VFL appearance for Geelong for the season.
Defender Tom Schulze is also missing after suffering a corked buttock in the loss to South Barwon.
They’ve been replaced by big man Cooper Leach, Jack Cook, who spent the 2025 season in England playing cricket, and debutant Ryan Collins, who is still eligible for under-18s.
The Supersaints have promoted Koby Harris from the reserves to replace Nathan Cole, who is in the concussion protocol until at least Round 4 after an incident in last week’s win over North Shore.
Colac has made one change for its meeting with Geelong West at Scaada Stadium, with big man Darcy Howard replacing veteran defender Lachie Simpkin (calf).
The Giants have also lodged one change, with Wichay Paul replacing Corey Leamer.
North Shore has lost Connor Walmsley to a calf injury for its meeting with Leopold at Windsor Park.
The Seagulls will also be missing Linkon Black, with Seth Talbot and
More to come
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