Star defender returns for Nirranda, Tigers and Power strengthened

Blues coach Nick Couch confirmed star backman Mathew Lloyd would play his first game since injuring his achilles in round six against Dennington. The news gets better for the reigning premiers, with classy Blues Jason Lee, James Willsher and Luke Irving all returning.

Dylan Willsher, Braden Poole (both away) and Brady Kew (ankle) will miss the fixture.

The Tigers will bolster each part of the ground, with coach Josh Sobey confirming they would welcome back skipper Jack Gleeson (defender), Blair McCutcheon and vice captain Sam Gleeson (both midfielders) and Hamish Gurry (forward) against the Demons.

McCutcheon, the reigning Esam medallist, will play his second senior game for the year after re-joining the Tigers mid-season.

"It's a nice feeling," Sobey said of regaining the four players. "They've freshened up after last week and they're eager to get into it as well and hopefully get themselves into some good form heading into finals."

Tigers forward Jye Wilson comes out of the line-up after a minor injury sustained against the Demons.

"Jye split his finger open just on the webbing," Sobey said. "They glued it up straight away, we're just taking a cautious approach so it doesn't get infected this week. He's fine and he'll return next week."

Kolora-Noorat has received a timely boost for its top-four match-up against Panmure, with coach Nick Bourke expecting key players Ben Moloney, Joel Moloney, Luke Tebble, Justin Wallace and Henry Kenna to return.

Tebble, who can play both ends of the ground, has been absent since breaking his arm during a win against Allansford in round nine.

"He's still probably a fitness tonight (Thursday) but he trained last week and I'm pretty confident he'll put his hand up to be right this week but we'll weigh that up at training."

Matt Colbert (calf), Will Fleming and Jeremy Bidmade come into the Bulldogs' side while Harry Turnham, Brandon Bant (both injured) and Luke Gavin (unavailable) exit.

Panmure v Kolora-Noorat

Panmure

B: M.Colbert, N.Keane, D.Meade

HB: T.Sinnott, Z.Reeves, Z.Ledin

C: D.Moloney, T.Wright, T.Murnane

HF: C.Bant, W.Fleming, P.Ryan

F: J.Bidmade, J.Moloney, L.McLeod

R: L.Kew, B.Gedye, T.Gardiner

Int: H.Searle, J.Norton, S.Mahony, D.Bourke

Kolora-Noorat

B: S.O'Connor, R.O'Connor, J.Brooks

HB: O.Curran, J.Evans, T.McKenzie

C: E.Lee, J.Dillon, N.Marshall

HF: G.Beasley, P.Baker, D.Barbary

F: C.Kavanagh, L.Boyd, N.Bourke

R: S.Kenna, S.Uwland, F.Beasley

Int: N.Castersen, T.Kenna, P.McSween, T.Glennen

Allansford Seniors v Dennington Seniors

Allansford Seniors

B: J.Kirkwood, T.Membrey, B.Lee

HB: B.Edge, B.Coutts, A.Gordon

C: K.Jans, B.Williams, R.Swan

HF: C.Day, C.McLean, B.Hunger

F: F.Gleeson, R.Hare, M.Gristede

R: Z.Jamieson, Z.Mungean, L.Read

Int: K.Gordon, T.Mott, B.Lenehan

Dennington Seniors

B: D.Threlfall, J.Keen, L.Pearson

HB: L.Campbell-Gavin, B.Barton, T.Lee

C: J.Turner, D.Paton, J.Hamilton

HF: T.Fitzgerald, L.McKane, J.Garner

F: T.Noonan, B.Thornton, B.Hadden

R: N.Alexandrou, T.Duynhoven, B.Baker

Int: E.Dowd, J.Woodall, J.Dwyer, J.Baker

Timboon Demons Seniors v Old Collegians Seniors

Timboon Demons Seniors

B: L.Smith, H.Stansfield, C.Dower

HB: K.Delaney, S.Newey, T.Marshallsea

C: L.Rosolin, O.Stansfield, A.Hunt

HF: C.Trotter, I.Arundell, T.Thorburn

F: S.Negrello, T.Hunt, N.Deppeler

R: M.Hickey, M.Wallace, B.Newey

Int: S.Crees, B.Harding, D.Tribe, L.Alsop

Old Collegians Seniors

B: N.Forth, D.Gleeson, B.Brooks

HB: J.Lucas, N.Wallace, J.Cust

C: J.Cleaver, J.Creed, T.Mahony

HF: T.Lewis, I.Williams, J.Dunne

F: J.O'Flynn, C.Barby, J.Brooks

R: J.Bateman, H.Hall, T.Kennedy

Int: S.wakely, E.Dawson, I.Dean, S.Walker

Merrivale Seniors v South Rovers Seniors

Merrivale Seniors

B: E.Barker, S.Doukas, W.Lenehan

HB: O.Doukas, S.Barnes, J.Gleeson

C: T.Stephens, C.Rix, A.Campbell

HF: J.Neave, S.Gleeson, M.Hausler

F: B.Bell, D.Weir, N.Krepp

R: M.Sandow, T.Porter, J.Porter

Int: J.Fary, Z.Neave, H.Gurry, B.McCutcheon

South Rovers Seniors

B: T.Bishop, J.Dalton, R.Hehir

HB: S.Wilde, T.Harman, B.Bushell

C: K.Lenehan, J.Higgins, P.Higgins

HF: B.Goodall, B.Fedley, T.Ryan

F: J.Bell, C.Britten, B.Turland

R: J.Morton, J.Fedley, S.Williams

Int: B.Oates, S.Nicolson, F.Torney, C.Mailes

Nirranda Seniors v Russells Creek Seniors

Nirranda Seniors

B: B.Poole, C.Wagstaff, L.Weel

HB: J.Irving, R.Nutting, B.Harkness

C: T.Dalton, J.Willsher, D.Philp

HF: J.Couch, B.McCann, J.Lee

F: J.Payne, D.Craven, J.Primmer

R: J.Walsh, T.Coates, J.Paulin

Int: L.Irving, M.Lloyd, H.Giblin

Russells Creek Seniors

B: J.Edwards, Z.Welsford, L.MacKley

HB: L.Edwards, D.Burns, T.Wason

C: S.Alberts, P.Brady, S.Brady

HF: T.Smith, B.Hewett, P.Chatfield

F: D.Herbertson, C.Templeton, J.Chatfield

R: L.McLeod, T.Lovett, D.Morris

Int: T.Boyle, S.Grinter, J.Chatfield, M.Noonan

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