A week after making his league debut with WAFL club West Perth, Matt McKenzie will return to where his football journey started when he lines up for St Albans in tomorrow’s clash with North Shore at St Albans Reserve.
The talented ruck last played with the Supersaints in 2022 during a five-season stint in the SANFL, where he made 19 senior appearances with West Adelaide and North Adelaide.
St Albans football boss Sam Wolfenden says West Perth having the bye has made McKenzie available.
“Matt’s really close with lots of the boys that have played here, being a former junior,” Wolfenden said.
“In previous years, he always tried to get back and play where he could.
“It coincides this weekend with West Perth having a bye and him wanting to come back over and play and be a part of it.
“He’s a great club person, and he’s got really good leadership skills. We’re excited to get him back and back into the fold.”
McKenzie has been selected in the ruck, but Wolfenden also expects the 199cm 26-year-old to spend time forward.
He kicked 20 goals from 16 games as a 20-year-old in 2019.
“Ruck is where he’s played for West Perth,” Wolfenden said.
“And then he’ll probably rest forward and just see how his body holds up.
“It was supposed to be a buy for him this weekend, so we’ll see how his body’s going.”
Wolfenden hopes McKenzie’s appearance against North Shore isn’t a one-off as St Albans continues its return to GFNL relevance.
“We’re hoping we might get him for maybe one or two more as well,” he said.
“We’ve put in six dates that he’s potentially available to play.
“But, that’s definitely not saying he’s going to play all those six, depending on how his body’s holding up, how his form is, and if he’s in the League side for West Perth and whatnot.”
McKenzie is one of two inclusions for the Supersaints who are chasing their third win in a season for the first time since 2019.
Seth Morrell returns from injury for his first match since Round 1.
However, Sam Donegan’s impressive return from a hamstring injury in last week’s loss to St Joseph’s has earned him a recall to VFL club Northern Bullants, and Harry Howarth is being managed.
The Seagulls have been forced into four changes.
The experienced Harry Purcell suffered a hamstring strain at training on Tuesday night, while Will Milsome didn’t see out last week’s loss to South Barwon with a hamstring issue.
Both are expected to return after the bye later this month.
East Geelong recruit Luca Mamone has been cleared of concussion after a head knock but won’t play, while Nathan King is unavailable.
Declan Clark returns, while former Modewarre under-18 duo Matt Jennings and Dom DiBlasio will make their GFNL senior debuts.
Premiership trio Logan Wagener, Brock Williamson and Kyle Bumpstead have been named for reigning premier Leopold ahead of its crucial clash with St Mary’s at Memorial Park.
Wagener returns from a concussion suffered during the Easter Saturday loss to St Joseph’s, and Williamson a minor knee issue that kept him out of the loss to Newtown & Chilwell, while Bumpstead makes his first senior appearance of the season.
Returning from a stint at Queenscliff, Harry Wall will make his senior debut.
Charlie Alexander, Xavier Hayter, Oscar Morphet and Anthony Tanner have been omitted.
Former Lara star Bayley Cockerill will make his senior debut for the Saints, while Keidan Rayner returns and Jack Willson will debut.
After making his 150th St Mary’s appearance, Jarryd Garner will miss with a minor hamstring issue, while Harry Segrave and Henry Cook also go out of the team that defeated Grovedale last week.
Unbeaten St Joseph’s has made four changes for its meeting with Colac at Drew Oval.
Paddy De Grandi will return to Geelong’s VFL team, Max McLachlan has an ankle issue, while Ryan Connolly and Gus Morrison have been omitted.
Zac Knights and Cal Mitchell return, Ollie Hanneysee has been promoted from the reserves, and Caleb Foster will make his first senior appearance since 2023.
Meanwhile, reliable defender Joel O’Dwyer is facing up to ten weeks on the sidelines after scaphoid surgery.
The Tigers have replaced the unavailable Darcy Lang with veteran Kane Smartt.
Newtown & Chilwell will welcome back Will O’Dwyer from injury and Liam Nash following suspension for its meeting with Grovedale at Burdoo Reserve.
The Towners have also included young gun Jett Modola.
They replace Perry Lewis-Smith, who has returned to VFL duty with the GWS Giants, Jesse Colville and Rory Diamond.
The Tigers have lost Nathan McHugh (shoulder), Nick Hau (concussion) and Joel Martyn (ankle) to injury.
Tommy Stephen and Jak Tute return, while Ned Mahoney will make his debut.
A defender, Mahoney started at Grovedale in Auskick and played in last year’s AFL Barwon under-18 Division 2 premiership.
Geelong West has made several changes for its meeting with South Barwon at McDonald Reserve.
Last week’s 10-goal hero, Lachie Horniblow, and Lachie Handley are injured, and Mac Scoullar is on the concussion protocol.
Tom Handley has been called up to the Geelong Falcons, Josh Dwyer will serve game one of a two-match suspension, and former AFL star Heath Shaw moves on following his one-off appearance.
For the Swans, star duo Doyle Madigan and Todd White will be on Geelong VFL duty, with an ankle injury sidelining Max Mawson.
Lara has lost co-captains Sam Purdy (shoulder) and Aaron Stone (concussion protocol) for its meeting with Bell Park at Lara Recreation Reserve.
Youngster Sam Hoffman is being managed.
Isaac Fulton-Grover and Sam Erwin have been recalled from the reserves, with Declan Goodwin promoted for his first senior match in 12 months.
The Dragons welcome back Jack Sarcevic and Eli Pearce from injury, while Jack Purcell will make his first senior appearance of 2025.
They replace Oli Hicks, who was concussed in the loss to St Joseph’s in Round 3, Jackson Gorman and Zach Lamb.
More to come
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