Emerging big man Cooper Leach will play his first senior match in 15 months when Grovedale hosts Lara at Burdoo Reserve.
Leach, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against the Cats in Round 3 last year, has spent the past seven weeks at Talent League level with the Geelong Falcons.
Tigers coach Jacob Spolding says the 19-year-old is keen to play the next couple of weeks at GFNL level while the Falcons have a couple of weeks off.
“He hasn’t had continuity with his football,” Spolding said. “He just wants to play a bit more footy.
Hopefully, that helps him out, and we can play a role in making sure when he does go back to the Falcons, that he’s ready to go.”
Spolding says he has no hesitation in throwing Leach into the first centre bounce despite Ryan Abbott and Joe McCarthy handling the ruck duties for Grovedale for most of this season.
“We think that’s the best thing for him,” Spolding said.
“And it allows Joe and Ryan and Tom Gillett to play forward of the ball a bit more this week, which we’re excited about as well.”
Grovedale has also been boosted by the return of co-captain Rory Quinn, former skipper Brady Campi, forward Ben Davis, and youngster Tom De Goldi.
Injury will sideline Will Jeffrey and Harrison Whyte, and Leigh Ellis is unavailable for a three-match stretch.
Joel Martyn and Tommy Stephen have been omitted.
The Cats will debut 15-year-old Jarvis Burley among three changes.
Burley has spent this year in the Geelong Falcons under-16 program.
Co-captain Aaron Stone and Josh Sanders return, with gun midfielder Darby Henderson sidelined due to a concussion and young duo Max Chambers and Cooper McKane both battling ankle issues.
Five premiership players, including 2024 grand final best-on-ground Brock Williamson and reigning best-and-fairest Logan Wagener, are among a raft of inclusions for Leopold as it prepares for a critical clash with grand final victim South Barwon at Memorial Park.
The Lions have also named classy half-back Mitch Burgess, ruck Kyle Bumpstead, and rugged defender Andrew Pepper, along with versatile big Tylar Watts and Geelong Falcon Mason Williams.
A plantar fascia issue that has impacted Billy Ritchie will see him sidelined again. Billy Clark is in the concussion protocol, while Lewis Gilbert, Vann Lunnon-Johnson, Zach Rochow-O’Toole, Anthony Tanner, and Harry Wall all return to the reserves.
Leopold has won the past eight meetings with the Swans, including the last two grand finals and this year’s Round 6 meeting.
St Joseph’s and St Mary’s will both be without important players for their blockbuster match-up at Drew Oval tomorrow.
Star defender half-back Jack Buckley is unavailable for the ladder-leading Joeys, while Saints talisman and league-leading goalkicker Paddy Dowling is overseas for the best part of a month.
However, St Joseph’s will regain captain Alex Hickey, Lewy Antonac, Luke Webb, Harry Smith, James Hose and Zac Knights.
The Saints have recalled Jack Willson and Harvey Ryan, with Charlie Vallelonga omitted.
The son of a former AFL star is among two debutants that Newtown & Chilwell will unveil in its clash with North Shore at Windsor Park.
Noah Caracella, son of Essendon and Brisbane premiership forward Blake, who also played for Collingwood, has made five appearances as a 19-year-old with the Geelong Falcons.
The Eagles have also given an opportunity to Will Hall after impressing at reserves level.
Yarrawonga recruit Logan Morey is back after missing the loss to Bell Park, with Tom Beckworth to make his first senior appearance of the year.
The Seagulls have made five changes, with the experienced Brad Tregenza among the inclusions.
Colac co-coach Seb Ross will play his first game in more than a month when the Tigers take on St Albans at St Albans Reserve.
The former St Kilda suffered a hamstring injury in the Round 8 win over St Mary’s and hasn’t played since.
Joel Cooper will also play his first game since the victory over the Saints.
St Albans will have access to WAFL-based big Matt McKenzie for the second time this year.
McKenzie, who plays with West Perth, featured in the Supersaints’ win over North Shore in Round 5.
Geelong Falcons and VFL-listed Kobe George will make his first appearance of the season for finals hopefuls Bell Park when it meets Geelong West at West Oval.
George has played seven matches with the Cats and four with the Falcons and has featured in a Young Guns game so far in 2025.
He replaces Rhys McWaters.
The Giants have made five inclusions.
Tom Handley returns from the Geelong Falcons and will be joined by Ollie Maddalena, Tom Drennan, Noah Allen, and August Stelma.
They replace Charlie Leavold, Corey Leamer, Daniel Cole, Riley Meddings, and Cooper Frost.
West’s footballers will join the club’s netball section in marking 25 years of their existence by wearing the Geelong West-St Peter’s rooster head jumper design.
X: @krockfootball
