Inverleigh veteran David Peel will get the chance to experience the intensity of a GDFNL Anzac Day clash for the first time when the Hawks face Bannockburn at Victoria Park.
In his second season back at the club after a decade with Geelong West in the GFNL, the former Giants captain is looking forward to the opportunity.
“It’s a great opportunity to play on the big stage,” Peel told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary.
“I haven’t played a lot of finals footy over the journey, so I think to play on a day where there’s no other games on – and we always expect a pretty big crowd – and honour the Anzacs as well, it means a lot to be able to run out there on Friday.”
It’s not quite situation critical for the 2023 premiers following home losses to Winchelsea and North Geelong, by six and four points, respectively, to open the season.
However, Peel is well aware that defeat by the Tigers will make life difficult for Inverleigh if it wants to make a quick return to the finals.
The Winchelsea and the North games, it’s just one or two moments that didn’t go our way… and the score would have probably looked a little bit different, potentially,” he said.
“If you’re not on the right side of those results and then we drop this game against Bannockburn, you know, it’s not season over, but it certainly makes every other game really, really important.
“We’ll be setting ourselves to hopefully win on Friday.”
Inverleigh has made two changes.
Casey Meehan will make his first appearance of the season, while Daniel Maher returns after missing the loss to the Magpies.
They replace Dalton Grundell (hip) and the omitted Michael Norris.
Bannockburn has made one change, naming Dylan Kollegger, the son of club great Troy, for his debut.
He replaces Ayden Osborne, who is in the 21-day concussion protocol.
GDFNL – AT SELECTION – ROUND 3
X: @krockfootball
