New Grovedale coach Jacob Spolding says he will be disappointed if South Barwon mentor Mark Neeld doesn’t engage in some friendly banter during Saturday’s season-opener at Burdoo Reserve.
Spolding, who will commence his second stint as GFNL senior coach after guiding Newtown & Chilwell from 2011-13, spent last year as one of Neeld’s assistants as the Swans made an audacious run to an ultimately unsuccessful grand final appearance.
However, the relationship between the pair stretches back almost a quarter of a century, with Neeld coaching a teenage Spolding at Ocean Grove in 2000.
“I think at some stage he probably will, which will be fun,” Spolding said.
“That’s the part of the game I’m really looking forward to, to be honest.
“I’d be disappointed if he didn’t.”
Spolding says that despite his tenure at McDonald Reserve giving him an intimate knowledge of some players, changes to the South Barwon list mean the Swans’ line-up will look different from the one that lost to Leopold.
“We’ll concentrate on what we can control and the type of footy we want to play,” he said.
“Hopefully, it’s competitive enough to take it up to South Barwon Saturday.”
2021 GFNL Rookie of the Year Tom Gillett has returned to the club after spending last year in the Western Australian Goldfields, kicking 99 goals from 22 games across all competitions.
That included a five-goal haul for W.A Country against South Australia Country at Optus Stadium.
After syndesmosis surgery pre-Christmas, Gillett has worked his way back to full fitness.
“He’s done enough work to put himself in the selection frame,” Spolding.
“He’ll add a focal point down forward for us that the footy club didn’t have last year.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what Tom can deliver for us.”
Yarraville-Seddon recruit Ajoung Maker will debut in the battle for the John Nankervis Shield, and Williamstown-listed Darby Henderson, if he gets through training with the Seagulls after battling concussion concerns, is likely to play his first senior game since 2021.
However, Werribee forward Mitch Chafer (ankle) and recruits Jas Lang (dislocated finger), Harley McCarthy (broken finger) and Judah Greene (back) are sidelined.
Chafer, who has been named to the GFNL Team of the Year for the past two years, will miss 3 to 4 weeks.
Lang is expected to be right for Round 2, and McCarthy is aiming for the Spirit of Anzac match-up with Lara in Round 3.
The Tigers will also be without young gun Cooper Leach, who’s made a meteoric rise from Grovedale to a spot on the Falcons list to trialling for a Vic Country under-18 spot in just over a month.
“We’re rapt,” Spolding said. “Footy’s about trying to promote your young kids that have got talent.
“Whether it be Coates (Talent) League of VFL, we won’t stand in anyone’s way.”
Spolding confirmed experienced defender Luke Ford had lodged a clearance to Bellarine club Queenscliff, while further talks with wantaway midfielder Cassidy Parish (Winchelsea) are scheduled for next week.
