It is six wins away from the second perfect season in GFNL history.
However, assistant coach Paul Hood says St Joseph’s is more concerned with the benefits that come with claiming the minor premiership than joining the champion North Shore’s 1998 heroes in being crowned “champions”.
With four rounds of the season remaining, Joeys sits one game clear of St Mary’s but with an inferior percentage.
St Joseph’s was only the second club to go through a home-and-away season with a perfect record when it claimed 18 consecutive victories in 2017.
However, it suffered a second semi-final loss in the second semi-final to the Saints before reversing the result on grand final day.
“With the final five in the GFL, the focus is getting into a second semi-final, ” Hood told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“Whether you do it straight away or the next week, it gives you two goes at a grand final.
“The immediate game now – it looks like we’re going to make the finals – is making sure we can qualify for that second semi and give ourselves the best chance.”
St Joseph’s will be without captain Alex Hickey (ankle) and star forward Hunter Lewis (knee soreness), with Oscar Hocking also out of the team that defeated South Barwon last week.
Ruck Oli Northam returns from his stint with SANFL club South Adelaide, defender Harry Smith is back from overseas for his first game since Round 9, and Jay Kirwood has overcome a quad injury that sidelined him from the clash with South.
Geelong West has made five changes.
Tanner Lewis and Phil Moimoi return from VFL duties at Geelong and Sydney, respectively.
Patrick Eastman, Ethan Liddle, and Jayden Symes are also back.
They replace injured duo Tex Mitchell (knee) and Lachie Handley (AC joint), Bradley Wood (unavailable), Kade Lovell (omitted) and Brady Smigowski, who returns to the under-18s after kicking a goal on debut in last week’s loss to St Mary’s.
GFNL: AT SELECTION – ROUND 15 (PART 1)
St Albans will be without captain Jacob Russell and key forward Hayden Elliott due to injury for its meeting with Colact at Concept Oval.
The Supersaints have also lost Sam Donegan to VFL duty with the Northern Bullants, while Cody Brogden is unavailable.
Recruit Lachie Gough (Old Paradians) will debut, with Campbell Sunderland, Jack Bumpstead and Michael Navarro recalled from the reserves.
On Sunday, Newtown & Chilwell hosts Grovedale at Elderslie Reserve.
The Eagles will be without captain Matt McMahon, leading goalkicker Luke Maddock, and young defender Kane Reid.
Jake Toulmin is back for the home team, Jesse Colville and Francesco Posterino have been recalled from the reserves, while Tom Beckworth will make his debut.
Young Tiger Bailey McDonald will return to the under-18s ahead of the club’s finals campaign in AFL Barwon’s division two competition.
He’s been replaced by Tommy Stephen, who has spent the past fortnight in the reserves.
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