One of the forgotten men of local football will be among four inclusions for a South Barwon outfit counting the cost of its Anzac Day loss to St Joseph’s.
Swans coach Mark Neeld has confirmed to K rock Football that Will Sexton will take on Colac on Saturday afternoon.
The former Geelong VFL player has managed just three senior games since playing every match in the COVID-shortened 2021 season.
His last 2pm game was against St Albans in Round 9 last year, where he suffered a season-ending broken hand after punching a goal post.
“Will, who has had a number of serious injuries throughout his career, has got himself to some really good fitness,” Neeld said.
“I don’t want to mozz him, but provided Will gets to 2:10pm on Saturday without walking into a wall or dropping a hammer on his foot, he’ll play.”
Sexton will be joined in the South team by vice-captain Taylor Mulraney, who missed the loss to Joeys through illness.
Jackson Carmody has been promoted from the reserves after solid performances in his new role as a midfielder.
“Over the last couple of weeks, he’s really earned the right to get his spot back in the senior team,” Neeld said of Carmody.
However, captain Matt Caldow (hamstring), star midfielder Sam James (shoulder), young defender Tom Peirce (shoulder), and Fraser Duryea (illness) are all facing extended stints on the sidelines.
Caldow, the reigning joint Mathieson medallist, looms as the most significant blow for last year’s grand finalists.
In his absence, Neeld will look to restructure South Barwon’s forward line.
“He’ll be missing for four weeks, which leaves a hole,” Neeld said.
“But, it provides an opportunity for someone to come, not only step up from a leadership point of view but also provide us a key marking forward.”
Neeld says a meeting with an orthopaedic surgeon will determine whether James, who will be sidelined until late June, plays again this season.
“They will decide whether or not they need to operate straight away, and we’ll see Sam in 2025,” Neeld said.
“There are many cases where after the eight-week period it’s healed enough, they strap it up, and he gets through the season, and they do the operation at the end of the year.
“We’ll know that in the coming weeks.”
Peirce and Duryea will unlikely be seen until after the competition-wide May 25 bye.
Neeld confirmed Fraser Fort, who shared the Mathieson Medal with Caldow, is available for the next two games after making his first appearance of the season against St Joseph’s.
krockfootball.live is broadcasting the South Barwon-Colac clash from 1pm Saturday
