St Mary’s will welcome back star midfield duo Harry Benson and Kade Chalcraft for tomorrow’s blockbuster qualifying final meeting with reigning premier Leopold at West Oval.
Benson missed the final-round win over Bell Park, while Chalcraft is back after being dropped from Geelong’s VFL team after featuring in last week’s.
However, the classy Jesse Travaglini and young gun Sam Christensen are sidelined with minor knee issues.
“They both copped different types of knocks last week,” co-coach Luke Rayner said.
“They’re similar type injuries – just under the kneecap. So, it’s more of a discomfort thing than a structural or ligament.
“The bone bruising and the kneepad bruising hasn’t come up for either of them.”
St Mary’s was unable to consider ruck Nick Minchin (knee), captain Jack Blood (quad), and spearhead Sam Dobson (collarbone).
“Nick’s got some soreness, so we’re hopeful he’s just one more week away,” Rayner said.
“Jack’s going really well with his recovery. He’s starting to ramp things up to 80 or 90 per cent, and he could be an outside chance for next week.
“Dobson’s our longest shot out of all of them. We’d have to go as far as we can possibly go to be able to give Sam another chance.”
GFNL: AT SELECTION – FINALS WEEK ONE
Leopold has settled on two changes.
Captain Marcus Thompson and fellow midfielder Tom Feely return, replacing Jake Edwards (hamstring) and Billy Clark.
However, the Lions, who have started their past two finals campaigns from an elimination final, will be conservative with veteran Ollie Tate, who is returning from a hamstring injury.
They also couldn’t consider Geelong VFL defender Bailey van de Heuvel, who has undergone knee surgery and will struggle to return in 2024.
On Sunday at West Oval, Bell Park will enter its first finals campaign in seven years, looking to reverse the result of a 94-point loss to South Barwon only three weeks ago in the elimination final.
However, it will be a different-looking Dragons lineup this time around.
“There’s going to be a fair difference in personnel from that 22 to this week; anywhere from 7-8 changes,” coach James Saker said.
“Whilst we’ve learnt a bit from that game, and we have touched on it, there’s going to be a different style of footy on Sunday.
“We learnt a bit from it, but we’re not scarred by it.
“We’ll back ourselves in to play a style of footy we think will stack up.”
The team lodged by Bell Park has Hamish Lucas listed as an out. However, Saker has confirmed the Geelong VFL-listed midfielder will play against the Swans.
Kobe George will return to the Geelong Falcons, with Osca Riccardi and Nick Petering back in the Dragons lineup.
“We’ll keep the VFL boys from last week (Lucas and Jack Sarcevic),” Saker said.
“We’ve got a Captain’s Run tomorrow.
“A few boys that had to tick some boxes from Thursday night have seemed to come through positively.
“But we won’t know if they’re playing for sure until tomorrow morning.”
Captain Lachie Patten and star defender Steve Bensted are the only two players from Bell Park’s most recent finals appearance that will take on the Swans.
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