Injury-hit footballer Tom Lynch returns to Koroit side - four years after most recent game

Lynch has undergone multiple foot surgeries since his last Hampden league senior game - the Saints' 2015 premiership win.

"He was looking at no sport potentially ever again," McLaren said. "He got back in about round four or five this year in the reserves and has built and built.

"He was someone I was so rapt for tonight. It was almost a bit emotional for me.

"It was unreal scenes, almost like (the videos the clubs show) when someone makes their AFL debut."

Lynch will run out with fellow injury-hit backman Jayden Watson, who hasn't played since the 2017 grand final, against Portland at Hanlon Park on Saturday.

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Watson has battled achilles and knee problems which have stemmed from his foot.

"He is an interleague-type of player, he is top-line," McLaren said.

Damian O'Connor (suspension) and Tom Mugavin (hamstring) make way.

Warrnambool had its own feel-good story, bringing in midfielder Ben Fleming for his first game of the season.

Blues coach Matt O'Brien said he was thrilled to welcome Fleming back to face North Warrnambool Eagles at Reid Oval.

"He did a serious ankle injury in a practice match," he said. "His rehabilitation took a lot longer than expected. He's a classy onballer and a good tackler so we're really pleased."

Forward Travis Graham, who was a late withdrawal last week with illness, was also picked for the Blues.

They lost Zacc Dwyer (finger) and Sam Wilson (hamstring) to injury.

The Eagles will be without the injured Billie Smedts and omitted tall Justin Wallace and brought in Jackson Couch and Liam Stow.

Other round 14 inclusions included Terang Mortlake's Lachlan Wareham, Matt Arundell and Sam McLean and Port Fairy's Isaac Martin, Dougall Hamilton and George MacDonald.

Hamilton Kangaroos added James Whyte and Harry Waters to an extended squad and Camperdown went in unchanged, meaning it will be without co-coach Jack Williams.

The Seagulls will be without Dylan Gunning (holidays) and younger brother Lochie (ribs) and ruckman Sandy Robinson (concussion).

Terang Mortlake

B: Zac Whiting, Ryan O'Connor, Chris Baxter

HB: Joseph Arundell, Ryan Tanner, Isaac Kenna

C: Tom McKenzie, Tyson Densley, Daniel Kenna

HF: Matthew Baxter, Lachlan Wareham, Dominic Kenna

F: Gus Bourke, Stephen Staunton, Mitchell Carlin

R: Matthew Arundell, Jarryd Hay, Nicholas Couch

Int from: Paul O'Connor, Ben Finnerty, Ben Kenna, Dylan Jones, Sam Crawley, Sam McLean

In: Matthew Arundell, Lachlan Wareham, Sam McLean, Sam Crawley, Dylan Jones

Out: Dominic Kenna, Declan O'Connor, Jakob Lee.

Hamilton Kangaroos

B: Joshua Meulendyks, Christopher Quinn, Jack Hickey

HB: Jarrod O'Brien , Jandre Slabbert, Joshua Pepper

C: Brady Hicks, Tyrone Ross, Sean Barnes

HF: Charles Murrie, Darcy Russell, Dylan Starkie

F: Sam Brewer, Levi Dare, Harry Waters

R: Jack Pertzel, Rory Gill, Hamish Waldron

Int from: Mick McMeel, Jack English, James Whyte, Hugh Douglas, Angus Noske

In: James Whyte, Harry Waters

Camperdown

B: Pele Manivong, Billy Arnold, Mitchell Danahay

HB: Jason Robinson, Brendan Richardson, Luke O'Neil

C: Matthew Field, Fraser Lucas, Riley Arnold

HF: William Lord, Jacob Mahony, Bayley Thompson

F: Zavier Mungean, Timothy Fitzgerald, Luke Clarke

R: William Rowbottom, Luke Mahony, Charlie Lucas

Int: Joshua Bone, Charlie Brett, Lachlan Bone

Emg: Joshua Place, Devon Coates

Unchanged

Port Fairy

B: Edward Purvis, John Anthony Bell, Joseph Forrest

HB: George Macdonald, Colin Harwood, Xavier McCartney

C: Darcy Smith, Kaine Mercovich, Andrew Lowe

HF: Daniel Nicholson, Matthew Sully, Tom Sullivan

F: Tyler Hetherington, Jake Bartlett, Jim Conlan

R: Dougall Hamilton, Matthew Pitt, Kurt Smith

Int: Lachlan Glare, Dylan Herbertson, Isaac Martin

Emg: Lachlan Sullivan, Saul Giblin, Jonathan Ayres

In: Dougall Hamilton, Isaac Martin, George Macdonald

Out: Dylan Gunning, Sandy Robinson, Lochie Gunning

Warrnambool

B: Martin Van Rooy, William Jacobs, Wil Fleming

HB: Bradley Bull, Alexander Shipard, Matthew Colbert

C: Austin Steere, Damien McCorkell, Jordan Foott

HF: Jye Turland, Sam Cowling, Travis Graham

F: Jackson Bell, Darren Ewing, Luke Cody

R: Daniel Weymouth, Mitch Bidmade, Thomas Ludeman

Int: Benjamin Fleming , Kurt Lenehan, Jed Turland

In: Benjamin Fleming, Travis Graham

Out: Samuel Wilson, Zacc Dwyer

North Warrnambool Eagles

B: Darcy Keast , Reece Scoble, Mitchell Bowman

HB: Thomas O'Leary, Thomas Batten, Bailey Jenkinson

C: Jackson Grundy, Sam McLachlan, Jett Bermingham

HF: Jarryd Lewis, Adam Wines, Luke Wines

F: Samuel McKinnon, Jordan Dillon, Joseph McKinnon

R: Benjamin Mugavin, Matthew Wines, Sam James

Int: Liam Stow, Tom James, Jackson Couch

In: Jackson Couch, Liam Stow, Mitchell Bowman

Out: Justin Wallace, Sam Slattery, Billie Smedts

Cobden

B: Sam Uwland, Jack McGlade, Zac Green

HB: Jake Evans, Christian Koroneos, Sam Thow

C: Grady Rooke, Jack Hutt, Joshua Hickey

HF: Louis Cahill, Damon Symes, Tomas Lindquist

F: Patrick Smith, Chris Paatsch, Jesse Williamson

R: Toby Hawkins, Daniel Watson, Paul Pekin

Int from: Thomas Spokes, William Benallack, Sam Giblett, Nicholas Kemp, Charlie Darcy

In: William Benallack, Damon Symes

South Warrnambool

B: Harrison Lee, Sam Thompson, Heath Brennan

HB: Brayden Beks, Tait Niddrie, Nick Thompson

C: Jayden Brooks, Jesse Gallichan, Manny Sandow

HF: Charlie Bradshaw, Shannon Beks, Corey Gallichan

F: Ben Annett, Tanna Blackney-Noter, Archie Stevens

R: Timothy Brown, Liam Youl, Jess Baillie

Int: Peter Doukas, Charlie Lee, Patrick Anderson

In: Charlie Lee

Out: Hugh Clancey

Portland

B: David Denboer, Damien Bell, Daniel Jackson

HB: Patrick Pekin, Connor Giddings, Harris Jennings

C: Patrick Haylock, Thomas Haylock, Jamieson Ballantyne

HF: Edmund Pritchard, Jake Wilson, Jackson Dunlop

F: Rhys Egan, Thomas Sharp, Aaron Shepherd

R: Ben Malcolm, Dylan Barr, Daniel Falcone

Int: Damon Huppatz, Tannar Stone, Toby Jennings

In: Edmund Pritchard, Harris Jennings, Toby Jennings, Aaron Shepherd

Out: Digby Sharp, Conor Drought, Toby Oakley, Noah Sandeman, Nathan Valori

Koroit

B: Alex Pulling, Dallas Mooney, Thomas Lynch

HB: Lachlan Rhook, Connor Hinkley, Sam Dobson

C: Jack Gleeson, Frazer Robb, Liam Hoy

HF: Brett Harrington, William Couch, Benjamin Dobson

F: Timothy McPherson, Jarrod Korewha, James Gow

R: Matt Hausler, Todd White, Tim Martin

Int: Clem Nagorcka, Jayden Watson, James North

In: Jayden Watson, Thomas Lynch

Out: Thomas Mugavin, Damian O'Connor

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