Star wing Damian McMahon says last year’s shock preliminary final exit has been a factor in St Mary’s maintaining its status as a GFNL premiership contender.
The Saints, who finished the 2023 home-and-away season as minor premier after posting a 15-3 win-loss record, were unceremoniously dumped from the finals in straight sets.
After Paddy Dowling missed a shot after the siren in the second semi-final that would have booked a sixth consecutive grand final appearance, St Mary’s couldn’t go the distance with eventual premier Leopold in the preliminary final.
“I wouldn’t say (we) got ahead of ourselves last year, but (we) just thought it was nearly going to happen to get to the last (grand final) day,” McMahon told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“I think it was a good hit in the face for a fair few of us to go, ‘Right. We’ve got to get back to work here. It’s an elite competition; you can’t just expect that it’s going to happen’.
“It was a real hit in the face, and I think we all came back with that motivation and drive, and it’s probably given us a good kick.
“Even through this (winter) period, where it gets tough, to make sure training’s on at an intensity but then also doing the extras away from the club, which will make a difference in the end.”
St Mary’s, whose only loss was a one-point defeat by the undefeated St Joseph’s in Round 7, can take another step towards ensuring it starts its September campaign from no worse than a qualifying final with a win over Geelong West.
The Saints have a significant hold over the Giants, winning 20 consecutive meetings dating back to the Geelong West-St Peter’s era.
Overall, St Mary’s has a 46-7 win-loss record against West.
The Saints will welcome back Keidan Rayner from injury and have promoted Charlie Vallelonga from the reserves for his first senior game since Round 16 last year.
They replace omitted duo Noah Biggs and Kane Loftus.
The Giants have been forced into five changes.
Phil Moimoi has been recalled to Sydney’s VFL team, star duo Emmanuel Ajang (ankle) and Jamieson Ballantyne (shoulder) will be sidelined through injury, Ethan Liddle is suffering from illness, and Patrick Eastman is unavailable.
Under-18 vice-captain Brady Smigowski will debut, with Declan Fenton, Blake Carroll, Tom Drennan, and Kade Lovell recalled from the reserves.
Unbeaten St Joseph’s looks set to welcome back star half-back Jack Buckley from injury for the meeting with South Barwon at McDonald Reserve.
Joeys have also included Tanner Owen and young gun Liam Kershaw, who was left out of the Geelong VFL team after making his debut last week.
Lively forward Jay Kirwood will be missing with a quad injury suffered at training, with Charlie Clark and Charlie Hall squeezed out.
The Swans regain Kelly O’Neil and have recalled Blair Huggins from the reserves.
They replace Ethan Borys and Todd White, who have been selected by the Cats.
For former Falcon Borys, it will be his debut in the Hoops.
Bell Park will be boosted by the return from a knee injury of star ruck Ollie Bridgewater for its clash with North Shore at Windsor Park.
The South Warrnambool product has been sidelined since the Round 9 loss to South Barwon.
The Dragons will be without young gun Jack Sarcevic, who has been called up to debut at VFL level with Geelong.
The Seagulls welcome back co-captain Brad Gerrard for his first game since Round 6.
Veteran Aaron Seller is listed as the out.
As well as carrying the prize of four points, the match-up will see the Zoran Vidovic Medal for best-on-ground presented for the first time.
Co-coach Devon Smith is back from missing last week’s loss to South Barwon, among five changes for Lara ahead of its clash with Grovedale at Burdoo Reserve.
The Cats have also included Werribee VFL-listed Connor Thar, Jake Marshall, Bailey Harvey and Ben O’Brien.
They replace Flynn McGuane, Taylan-Jay Trickey, Hayden Amos, Jayson Tomicic, and Lachie Scerri.
Chasing a fourth win of the season, the Tigers welcome back off-season recruit Ajoung Maker from injury for his first game since Round 2, with Daniel Harms promoted from the reserves.
They replace injured duo Harley McCarthy (knee) and Will Skene (groin).
St Albans will be boosted by the availability of midfielder Sam Donegan when it hosts Newtown & Chilwell at St Albans Reserve.
It will be Donegan’s first game for the Supersaints since the season’s opening round, having made ten appearances for VFL club Northern Bullants.
Tom Caudullo looks set to return from injury, with Jaymz Farrell and Chris Jreige out of the team that lost to Bell Park last week.
The Eagles have included veteran Nelson Browne and youngster Jesse Colville, with Charlie Kelsall and Jedd Coburn out of the team held to two goals by Colac last week.
Colac and Leopold have made one change for Sunday’s krockfootball.live meeting at Central Reserve.
The Tigers welcome back Joffy Simpkin from suspension but lose Bailey Scott back to Essendon VFL.
Premiership wingman Luke Justin replaced Jake Edwards at the Lions.
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