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Bell Park captain Lachie Patten will make his first senior appearance of the season in tomorrow’s must-win match-up with the emerging St Albans at Hamlyn Park.
The star midfielder made a rare appearance in the reserves last week after recovering from a groin issue.
However, Dragons coach James Saker says Patten is ready for the rigours of senior football.
“He’ll play forward and a bit of midfield, and we don’t expect him to come and get 30 touches game one,” Saker said
“But what he brings from a leadership perspective, as much as anything else, is going to be invaluable to us.
“I expect him to be a really good contributor for us, but for him to be just back out there amongst the boys and lead them is going to be huge for us.”
The Dragons have also regained big man Oli Hicks and promoted Jake Reid for his first senior match since late last year.
However, Geelong VFL-listed forward Jack Sarcevic (knee) and Fred Lucas (Geelong Falcons) are forced outs from the team that narrowly defeated Grovedale last week.
James Wore has been omitted.
St Albans has named Will Bown to make his debut among five changes for its clash with Bell Park at Hamlyn Park.
He is the son of Supersaints great Nat, who was also a regular GFNL representative and spent time in Geelong’s AFL reserves team in the late 1990s.
Bown is also the great-grandson and grandson of Jim and Bill Allthorpe, respectively, who the GFNL reserve grade best-and-fairest is named after.
“He’s really earned it,” coach Rick Munn said of Bown’s selection. “I think he’s been in the best six out of the seven games.
“He got a little taste of senior footy in one of the practice matches as well. But yeah, he’s really come from a long way back, Will, but it’s pretty exciting for him and the family.
“I think he’s lost close to 15 kilos since the start of pre-season, so he’s really put in the work and really invested in the program, and he’ll reap some rewards this week.”
The Supersaints have also promoted Nick Sinkinson, with Joe Osborne, Seth Morrell and Harry Howarth returning.
However, star big Hayden Elliott is unavailable, while Sam Donegan has been recalled by VFL club Northern Bullants, Lucas Gray is on Geelong College duty, Tyson Roberts has headed back to the Geelong Falcons, and Brock McDonald has a minor hamstring issue.
South Barwon will be without defender Blair Huggins for the remainder of the season after suffering a serious knee injury in last week’s win over St Albans.
Scans have confirmed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and damage to his posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and meniscus.
The Swans have also lost Geelong VFL-listed duo Oscar Pollock (knee) and Ethan Borys (calf) for its meeting with St Joseph’s
However, big man Ben Kellett returns from making his second appearance for reigning VFL premier Werribee, and Dustin Burns has been recalled from the reserves after a nine-goal effort last week.
Joeys, which suffered its first home-and-away loss since Round 18, 2023, last week against Newtown & Chilwell, regains Mathieson Medal fancy James Gow.
He replaces key forward Joel Edwards, who will be sidelined through injury.
Lewis Page will play his first senior game since late 2023.
Star Leopold defender Harris Jennings is being managed and will miss the clash with the improving Grovedale at Memorial Park.
The Lions have made two changes, with Mason Williams returning to the Geelong Falcons.
Reliable backman Trent Thompson returns after missing the win over Lara, while Billy Clark has been recalled from the reserves.
The Tigers, who fell just short of an upset of Bell Park last week, will be boosted by the return of Leigh Ellis and Ed Adams, while Will Jeffery will make his first senior appearance of the year.
They replace Matt Kreuger (torn bicep), Bailey McDonald (hamstring awareness), and Sam Radcliffe.
Meanwhile, 2021 GFNL Rookie of the Year Tom Gillett will play between a half and three-quarters in the reserves after overcoming an ankle injury suffered during a practice match in March.
Captain Jack Blood, the experienced Jesse Travaglini, and key forward Michael Rudd are among five inclusions for St Mary’s as it looks to hand Colac its first loss at Central Reserve in 2025.
The Saints have also named big man Sam Christensen for his first senior match of the season and recalled Elliott McDonald.
Former Tiger Jarryd Garner is unavailable, Chris Jansen (groin) and Trent McMullan (Achilles soreness) are injured, while Harry Segrave and last week’s debutant Nick Saunders have been omitted.
Colac, which announced the re-signing of co-coaches Seb Ross and Jason Armistead on Thursday night, get back captain Jack Melican and fellow defender Lachie Simpkin, with Darcy Lang unavailable due to work commitments.
Fraser Holt and Billy Buchanan have been omitted.
Co-captain Sam Purdy will return among five changes for Lara as it faces a tough ask against Newtown & Chilwell at Elderslie Reserve.
Geelong West has replaced the suspended Charlie Leavold with fellow youngster Ezekiel Rowe for its meeting with North Shore at Windsor Park.
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