Grovedale coach Jacob Spolding isn’t hiding from the importance of beating Geelong West in Saturday’s final-round clash at Scaada Stadium to its plans for 2027.
The Tigers are chasing a seventh win of the season, with victory giving Jacob Spolding his best return since taking on the top job at Burdoo Reserve ahead of the 2024 season.
Grovedale enters the clash with the Giants in good form after back-to-back wins over North Shore and Bell Park and solid efforts against finals-bound Newtown & Chilwell and Leopold.
“Three in a row is really important for our group,” Spolding said.
“Not only moving forward for the current group, but also to have conversations with potential recruits to say, ‘Look. We’ve taken steps forward; we’ve challenged some of the teams that will play finals in the back month of the season’.
“So, to get to seven (wins) is really important for our footy club.”
Consistency has been key for Grovedale in the second half of the season, which has also included a two-point loss to St Joseph’s and a 20-point defeat by premiership favourites St Mary’s.
“Early in the year, we were chopping and changing a little bit due to injury and unavailability and things like that,” Spolding said.
“And then just a bit of belief when we have challenged those teams that will play finals.
“The Newtown game, the playing group were really disappointed in the result. They weren’t just happy to get close.
“And then some players have just improved their footy. Joe McCarthy’s season’s been outstanding.
“And young players like that believe that they can play at this level now and they’re doing it regularly, which is great.”
Spolding says conversations with potential recruits have been taking place for the best part of two months.
However, he is also mindful of the need to continue developing the undoubted young talent at the club.
“There are four of us that have been working the phones over that time, and we’ve had some really positive conversations with a few players, which is great,” Spolding said.
“There are a number still waiting for their season to finish to work out what it looks like for them in 2027.
“So, we’re bullish about being able to bring some players in, but also mindful of the fact that we’ve got a list that played at 26 player points last week, which would be the lowest in the comp on the weekend, and had a pretty strong win.
“So, we’re also understanding that we’ve got some talent that’s on our list currently who are starting to play really good football and deserve an opportunity to continue to play strong senior GFL footy.”
Grovedale has named Jak Tute, Billy Ford and Werribee VFL big man Caiden Gardiner in its squad.
The Giants will take an unchanged team into its final match under interim coach Nathan Storer.
Minor premier St Mary’s (1st, 15-2) has made three changes for its meeting with Colac (6th, 9-8) at Anthony Costa Oval.
The Saints are taking the conservative approach with experienced trio Elijah Wales (corkie), Chris Jansen (hamstring) and co-captain Jack Blood (adductor).
Blood only made his return last week against Geelong West after an extended stint on the sidelines.
Talisman Paddy Dowling, hardnut Ollie Flynn and co-captain Brayden Ham return.
Colac, which will farewell co-coaches Seb Ross and Jason Armistead at the end of the game, will be boosted by the presence of Darcy Lang following a one-match suspension.
Chaise Murray and Cooper Forbes return, while Matt Miller has been named to make his debut.
Aaron Walters will be sidelined due to injury.
Newtown & Chilwell (4th, 12-5) welcomes back a quartet of quality players for its must-win clash with St Albans (9th, 4-13) at Jardon Oval.
The Towners need to beat the Supersaints to ensure the double-chance and a spot in next week’s qualifying final against South Barwon.
Gennaro Bove, Nick Jephson, Mitch Diamond and Archer Harkness return, while Jaxon Bruhn has been recalled from the reserves.
Veteran defender Braden Hocking is being managed and Blake Sutterby will also be missing after receiving a cut above his eye in the loss to the Swans.
Edan Ibbetson, Bailey Colville and Luke Norsworthy have been omitted.
The Supersaints will debut Miller Keck, the brother of Fletcher, among five changes.
Josh and Ethan Hobbs, Tyson Roberts, and Kade Parish have also been included.
They replace Ethan Mantas (hamstring), Will Lane (knee), Dylan Dwyer (shoulder), Andrew Taylor (concussion), and Angus Evans (illness).
South Barwon (2nd, 13-4) duo Lachie Weidemann and Tom Pierce have returned to Geelong VFL duty among three changes ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Leopold (7th, 8-9) at Leopold Memorial Park.
The Swans, who have never won at the venue during Mark Neeld’s four-year tenure, have also omitted Wilhelm Bennett.
Geordie Richardson, Zac Green and Jamison Hallam have been recalled from the reserves.
The Lions will be without premiership pair Jett Matthews (injured) and Billy Ritchie (suspended), replaced by Archie Eichler and Ethan Skene.
Likely elimination final opponents St Joseph’s (4th, 13-5) and Bell Park (5th, 12-6), and wooden spooner North Shore (11th, 0-18) had the bye.
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