Inverleigh’s hopes of avoiding being the first reigning premier in 16 years to miss the following year’s post-season have been dealt a crippling blow.
The Hawks will be forced into at least five changes for tomorrow’s meeting with the Belmont Lions at Morton Power Oval.
Captain Jack Fiolet, Daniel Midolo, Luke Wilson, Toby Manganelli and Nathan Mayes will all be missing, joining the likes of co-coach Dalton Grundell, Michael Best, Dean Muir and Mick Grozdanovski on the sidelines.
Midolo, who joined Inverleigh from Bellarine club Anglesea, is set for an extended stint on the sidelines with a knee injury that co-coach Chris Moore says has the Hawks fearing a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
“It was very innocuous; it didn’t look like much,” Moore said. “He just went to turn, and it went.
“We’ve got our fingers crossed, but it’s looking that way.
Inverleigh sits six points behind fifth-placed Thomson with seven rounds to play.
However, Moore says the Hawks have taken finals out of the equation.
“We’re just going out trying to win every week,” he said. “There’ll be no talk of ‘elimination finals’ or ‘if we lose, we’re done’.
“It’s now getting the group together and trying to enjoy our footy and enjoy the rest of the season.”
In better news for the Hawks, David Peel will make his first senior appearance since Round 3.
Brayden Warren has also been named alongside Ryan Bell, Kieran McNally and under-18 Cameron Sewell.
The Lions have their own injury issues, with Dave Allitt and Jed Evans among five outs.
Jake Wood, Josh Allen and Andy Wylie are also missing from the team that lost to ladder leader East Geelong.
Stephen Phillips, Jesse Stapleton, Noah Houtsma, Jake Clark, and debutant Zac Moore take their place.
Moore, a junior at Newtown & Chilwell and South Barwon, arrived at Winter Reserve from Bellarine club Newcomb ahead of the 2024 season.
GDFNL: – AT SELECTION – ROUND 12
Former AFL player Reece Conca and Geelong Falcons duo James Hose and Leigham Elzinga are among four changes for Bannockburn ahead of its meeting with Anakie at Victoria Park.
Josh Kunjka is back for his first game since Round 9.
They replace injured duo Tristan Battaglia (groin) and Jack Henderson (wrist) and the omitted Brodie Harding and Zac Justin.
Luke Dahlhaus is back for the Roos after missing last week’s loss to Winchelsea, and Sam Lloyd will play his fourth and final game after kicking five goals for Murray League club Deniliquin last week.
Werribee Centrals welcome back Harley Kilby and Connor McKenzie for its meeting with Corio at Galvin Park.
They replace Bryce Linehan-Cunnignham (knee soreness) and Mar Gattek.
The Devils have recalled the Bigham brothers, Jalen and Isiah, and Brock Cervenka.
Nathan Kenyon (ankle), B.J O’Toole (corked calf), and Brad Horsham (knee) are out of the team that lost to North Geelong last week.
Bell Post Hill will be without star midfielder Boe Collins for the clash with East Geelong at Myers Reserve.
Collins copped an accidental knee to the head in his first game back from a six-week suspension in last week’s loss to Thomson.
The Panthers will also be without key defender Daniel Banister (unavailable) and Jett Herrmann (ankle).
Veteran Adrian Fantella and Ben Tekin return, while South Barwon recruit Tom Verschuren will make his debut.
The Eagles regain Jayden Fanning and have recalled Ross Symonds from the reserves in place of Jack Dickson (managed) and Conor McKinnon (unavailable).
North Geelong will be without midfield gun Rory Desnoy and big man Cooper Pasque when it hosts Geelong West at Keith Barclay Oval.
The former Leopold pair, who were important in last week’s come-from-behind win over Corio, are unavailable.
Max Trevaskis returns for his first game since Round 9, while Juanito Ramos has been recalled from the reserves.
Winchelsea has lost Shane O’Connell to a hamstring injury, while Tom Moloney and Harry Nagle are unavailable for the meeting with Thomson at Eastern Reserve.
The Blues have recalled Jackson Timms, Reuben James and Shaun Morris from the reserves.
Logan Mitchell is back for his first game since Round 2, replacing Tom Major.
