WDFNL round seven teams: Bulldog gets call up, Blues rested

The key position Bulldog has played three reserves games and was best on ground against Kolora-Noorat last weekend.

Melican replaces the injured Tate Gardiner, who will miss because of a tight hamstring.

Coach Chris Bant said he was taken a precautionary approach with Gardiner.

"He said it was a bit tight and we've been wanting to get Kal in for a while but he has had work commitments and has only been able to string one or two games together," he said.

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"He has strung a couple of good games and got best on ground in the twos on the weekend so it's pretty easy to bring him in as the hardest spot to find is someone to go out but to have the injury there makes it a bit easier this week. It's going to be harder in the future."

Bant was pleased he had a settled side with only one forced changed this week.

"We've got a couple of long term injuries that we'll probably get back at the middle or back half of the year but otherwise everyone is ticking along pretty nice," he said.

"It's a good feeling at the moment."

Undefeated Nirranda will rest a number of players for its clash against Dennington, which also makes three alterations.

Coach Brayden Harkness, Dylan Willsher, Luke Irving, Peter McDowall and Jesse Dalton are all being managed.

The Blues have Mathew Lloyd (shin splints) and James Willsher (shoulder) back from injury while Jack Spokes, Bronte McCann and Inoke Ratu were unavailable last week.

"All of us have minor niggles and it's more about management. I don't think any will be long term," Harkness said.

"We have had a solid six weeks and this is a good opportunity, with a long season and only one bye to get a few rests in when were can. That's main reason.

"The five coming in have played senior footy before and are all strong players in their own right."

The Dogs welcome back John Vincent (knee) and Ethan Dowd (work) while former coach Mick Phillips will play his first game of the year.

Vincent will play in the midfield and up forward and Dowd will float between the wing and forward line.

Coach Ben Thornton said Phillips had been unavailable due to work but showed good form on the training track since returning and will provide a leadership boost to his inexperienced and injury-depleted side.

Jockey Bradley Thomas-Rantall is out due to commitments at Sandown on Saturday while Dillon Paton has an injured back and Trent Torney is unavailable.

Russells Creek is also managing players with niggles with Dylan Herbertson and Dan Nicholson two of Creek's five omissions for the clash against the Bulldogs.

"'Nico' has a bit of a sore leg that he has been carrying for a bit now and it's time to just give him a spell," coach Peter Timms said.

"We are focusing on a couple of games coming up and the Panmure game will be a tough one with all our outs.

"Nico will have a rest for a couple of weeks while Herbertson has a slight hamstring so both are managed out of precaution."

Benjamin Van Zelst, Xavier Short and Darcy Hoye return to the under 18s.

Harrison Kilpatrick and Darcy Barker, who will make his senior debut, com into the team along with Jesse Cruickshank, Samuel Wilson (foot) and Caleb Templeton (hamstring).

Kolora-Noorat will have a debutant with recruit Rhys Cottam-Starkey playing his first game for the reigning premiers against Timboon Demons on Saturday.

The small forward is one of four inclusions which includes coach Ben Walsh (sore back), Scott Judd (knee) and Tyler Beasley (reserves).

Walsh said it was exciting to see Cottam-Starkey making his debut.

"He played at Lake Bolac in 2019 and he came to us after that but we didn't play in 2020 and he was injured in the early part of year. He played the last couple in the reserves," he said.

"He hurt his foot in practice match and took time to get over that but has been playing the last few weeks.

"He has trained quite well and showed some good signs in our practice matches. He is one of those hard nut small forwards who is hard and tough. It's good to give him an opportunity."

The Teams

Old Collegians

B: Jonah Bowles, Mason Crosier, Elijah Dawson

HB: Harry White, Luke Moutray, Michael Pritchard

C: Axel McKinnon, Colby Rix, Hayden Jenkins

HF: Matthew Petherick, Tayne McDonald, Nathan Forth

F: Nick Sheehan, Jake Zippel, Eli Barker

R: Connor Barby, Timothy Lewis, Jacob Brooks

Int: Kobi Bidmade, Jacob Dunne, Isaac Frusher, Bailey Brooks

In: Jake Zippel, Isaac Frusher, Axel McKinnon

Out: Joe Nyikos, Riley Fox, Nathan Wallace

South Rovers

B: Ned Lourey, Jaxen Dalton, Luke Payne

HB: Cody Mailes, Tom Wilson, Sam Hodgins

C: Joseph Higgins, Kurt Lenehan, Jack Dowd

HF: Abel Farrell, Kieran Timms, Aaron Seabrook

F: Alexander White, Kevin Moloney, Dylan Cox

R: Thomas Bowman, Sandon Williams, Eamon Dowd

Int: Ty Wood, Patrick Drake, Brad Bushell, Lachlan Wilde

In: Cody Mailes, Sandon Williams,

Out: Trent Harman, Jake Bacon

Timboon Demons

B: Connor Matthew Cardwell, Samuel Newey, Nathan Gillingham

HB: Jordan Fowler, Ewan Flanagan, Joshua Worboys

C: Benjamin Matthews, Lyndon Alsop, Lachlan Rosolin

HF: Anthony Glennen, Ashley Rosolin, Timothy Smurthwaite

F: Benjamin Newey, Charlie Trotter, Ashley Hunt

R: Marcus Hickey, William Benallack, Darcy Tribe

Int: Henry Stansfield, Rhys Ziegelaar, Thomas Hunt, Ned Dalziel, Jack Gaut

In: Ewan Flanagan

Kolora-Noorat

B: Stephen O'Connor, Jake Richardson, Joel Dillon

HB: Nick Marshall, Bailey Kemp, Luke Tebble

C: Harry O'Sullivan, Scott Judd, Benjamin Reid

HF: Luke Justin, , Aaron Robertson, Rhys Cottam-Starkey

F: Ben Walsh, Ben Fraser, Henry Kenna

R: Paul McSween, Joel Moloney, Luke McConnell

Int: Benjamin O'Sullivan, Ryley Hutchins, Harry Darcy, Tyler Beasley

In: Ben Walsh, Scott Judd, Tyler Beasley, Rhys Cottam-Starkey

Out: Jacob Mahony, Ben Johnson, Nicholas Hoare, Samuel Kenna

Dennington

B: Thomas Noonan, Jesse Lewis, Bradley Rees

HB: Nyle Gurry, Zeb McKenna, Tom Fitzgerald

C: Kye McKenna, Benjamin Thornton, Ethan Dowd

HF: Casey Simms, Jonathon Malone, Lewis Campbell-Gavin

F: Jackson Cruickshank, Matt Dwyer, John Vincent

R: Reggie Barling, Jack Johnstone, Bronte Baker

Int: Jordan Garner, Michael Phillips, Mitchell Howe, Liam Byrne

In: John Vincent, Michael Phillips, Ethan Dowd

Out: Bradley Thomas-Rantall, Dillon Paton, Trent Torney

Nirranda

B: Bronte McCann, Luke Parsons, Cody Wagstaff

HB: Luke Weel, Mathew Lloyd, Reagan Nutting

C: Kalon Cottee, James Willsher, Alix Lane

HF: Ben Threlfall, Jordan Payne, Max Primmer

F: Dylan Philp, Hugh Giblin, Jack Spokes

R: Jarryd Walsh, Scott Carlin, Dylan Lees

Int: Inoke Ratu, Tyler Coates, Jonathon McLaren

In: Jack Spokes, Mathew Lloyd, James Willsher, Bronte McCann, Inoke Ratu

Out: Jesse Dalton, Brayden Harkness, Dylan Willsher, Luke Irving, Peter McDowall

Merrivale

B: Mark Stewart, Samuel Doukas, Angus Campbell

HB: James Fary, , Josh Britton, Joshua Sobey

C: Oliver Doukas, Jalen Porter, Tyler Stephens

HF: Jye Wilson , Luke Byrne, Jayden Brooks

F: Nathan Krepp, Todd McLean, Jack Neave

R: Manny Sandow, Tate Porter, Blair McCutcheon

Int: Michael Boyd, Lachlan Hinkley, Wil Flaherty, Riley McConnellT

In: Joshua Sobey

Allansford

B: Tyler Mungean, Noah Keane, Travis Membrey

HB: Jos Medley, Joshua Kirkwood, Jeremy Ellis

C: Aiden Gordon, Dylan Cross, Brett Hunger

HF: Connor Bellman, Benjamin Lenehan, Harrison Searle

F: Joseph Meade, Mitchell Gristede, Bryden Jubb

R: Robert Hare, Justin Fedley, Bradley Edge

Int: Zavier Mungean, Rhys Buck, Joby Baker, Cooper McLean

In: Jeremy Ellis, Benjamin Lenehan, Joshua Kirkwood, Justin Fedley

Out: Dylan Hare, Joseph Parsons, David Finnigan, Stephen Kilpatrick

Panmure

B: Ben Mahony, Liam Lyons, Samuel Mahony

HB: Tom Mahony, Daniel Meade, Samuel Loveday

C: Bradley Gedye, Brandon Bant, Matthew Colbert

HF: Louis Kew, Christopher Bant, Isaac Sinnott

F: Patrick Mahony, Daniel Roache, Brady Purcell

R: Kallan Melican, Luke Gavin, Lachlan McLeod

Int: Zeke Reeves, Thomas Wright, Liam Bishop, Dylan Parsons

In: Kallan Melican

Out: Tate Gardiner

Russells Creek

B: Jacob Linford, Jude Forth Bligh, Marcus Askew

HB: Matthew Rook, Samuel Wilson, Leigh Mckane

C: Blair Hewett, Phillip Chatfield, Blake Rudland-Castles

HF: Christopher Robertson, Thomas Smith, Zac Timms

F: Jesse Cruickshank, Kyle Ryan, Caleb Templeton

R: Dylan Burns, Samual Alberts, Sam Grinter

Int: Harrison Kilpatrick, Jandamara Chatfield, Jayden Millet

In: Jesse Cruickshank, Samuel Wilson, Caleb Templeton, Harrison Kilpatrick, Darcy Barker

Out: Dylan Herbertson, Daniel Nicholson, Benjamin Van Zelst, Xavier Short, Darcy Hoye

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