Veteran Jonathan Simpkin is confident there is plenty of improvement left in Colac during the second half of the season as it prepares for a clash with fellow finals hopefuls Newtown & Chilwell at Jardon Oval.
Four wins from five outings since its first bye has last year’s beaten preliminary finalists sitting just inside the top five, but only a game behind this week’s opponent, who also has a game in hand.
“The boys are really keen to get out there and give it a good crack,” Simpkin, who returns after sitting out last week’s win over North Shore, told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“What we play for is the big games and to come up against some quality teams on their home deck when… the stakes are huge.
“We’re definitely excited and keen and (we) know what the ramifications are if we win or lose.
“It can be a bit miserable at Elderslie Reserve. The last couple of times we’ve been there in the middle of winter, it’s been a bit of a bog heap.
“I think the sun’s meant to be out this weekend, so it should be good.”
Simpkin believes Colac would be talked about differently if it hadn’t coughed up handy leads against Leopold and St Joseph’s.
“But that’s okay; it’s a long year,” he said.
“The teams that are playing well this time of year, there’s probably going to be other teams playing good at the end.
“So, we just want to keep improving, and I feel like we’re playing a lot better football at the moment than what we were at the start of the year.
“It’d be nice to have a few extra players out there at the moment, but the guys that have come in are playing a role.”
Among those exposed to senior football in 2026 are Geelong Falcons-listed Hamish Darroch, the returning Jack Slater, Round 11 debutant Zac McCarthy, and CDFNL products Jack Fish and Jack Finn.
“You don’t know until you give them the chance… and they’ve come in, and they’ve really shown that they’re very capable at senior level,” Simpkin said,
“Fish and Darroch, who are 17 and 18, they’ve played a fair chunk of senior footy this year and don’t look out of place at all.
“Coming from the local district league, where they’ve probably played the last couple of years against men, so they’re not afraid of
the contest.
“They put their head in and go hard, so it’s been good to get those ones in and give them an opportunity.”
Simpkin will be joined by former Geelong West star Ethan Lidde, who has served a one-match suspension.
They replace omitted duo Cooper Forbes and Zac McCarthy.
The Towners will be without injured youngsters Tom Kiddle and Jett Modola, but Taj McMillan returns after breaking his collarbone in the Round 5 win over Leopold.
Four premiership players, a rising young talent, and a VFL star are among the inclusions for Leopold (7th, 4-6) as it prepares for a crucial clash with the unbeaten St Mary’s (1st, 10-0) at Memorial Park.
Mitch Burgess and Marcus Thompson return after missing the win over North Shobefore to their bye, Jett Matthews will play his first senior match of the season, and Riley Stone returns after nearly two months on the sidelines.
Werribee VFL-listed and former Saint Jay Dahlhaus is back after suffering a lacerated liver against Grovedale, and Mason Williams has been given the green light to play by Geelong VFL after three consecutive appearances with the Cats.
James Peters, Ethan Skene, Archie Eichler, Anthony Tanner, Solly Harvey, and Ethan Cormack return to the reserves.
The unbeaten Saints, who are chasing 17 consecutive wins, have lost forward duo Sam Bourke and Paddy Dowling to injury.
However, co-captain Brayden Ham and Elijah Wales are among the inclusions.
St Joseph’s (4th, 7-4) will unveil two more debutants when it faces Grovedale (8th, 4-6) at Burdoo Reserve.
Tom Clark has been in fine form in the AFL Barwon under-18 Division 1 competition, while Hunter Moorfoot is leading the reserves goalkicking with 29 majors for the season.
Joeys have also included Eamon Hill and Tosh Lennon, replacing Zac Knights, Angus Humphrey, Charlie Clark and Ryan Connolly from the team that lost to Bell Park last week.
The Tigers have gained one former AFL player and lost another among three changes.
Nathan Kreuger has been released by Geelong VFL, but James Tsitas won’t be seen again after two appearances in yellow and black, playing out the season in Queensland.
Kreuger’s brother Bradley returns, as does Jack Kelly.
Grady Murrant and Nathan Vassallo have been omitted.
Bell Park (6th, 6-4) has named off-season addition Mak Lavis to make his debut when the Dragons face Geelong West (10th, 2-8) at Hi Sushi Oval.
They’ve also included Lucas Stefanovski and Tom Pearson.
Eli Pearce has been named to make his VFL debut for Werribee, Mitch Mahady is unavailable, and Zach Lamb is in the concussion protocol.
The Giants have made two changes, with Jai Robinson and Corey Leamerin replacing Danny Cole and Luke Wittman.
Beechworth recruit Degan Dolny will make his debut for South Barwon (3rd, 7-3) when it hosts North Shore (11th, 0-10) at McDonald Reserve.
Lachie Weidemann returns after a stint with Geelong’s VFL team, which has the bye, Oscar Pollock has been recalled from the reserves, and Jaxon Elzinga will make his first senior appearance since Round 1 last year.
St Albans (9th, 2-8) has the bye.
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