One of local football’s most influential figures will be honoured when St Albans and Lara do battle in tomorrow’s (Friday’s) standalone GFNL clash at St Albans Reserve.
The Supersaints and Cats will play for the inaugural Peter Kelly Cup in recognition of the former league president, Football Geelong chairman and AFL Barwon commissioner’s influence on both clubs as a player and administrator.
At St Albans, Kelly was a two-time premiership player and a long-serving committee member before joining Lara in mid-1976.
A player and reserves coach at the Cats, he joined the committee at Bisinella Oval in 1981.
He was president for nine years across two stints, including overseeing Lara’s move to the GFNL in 1989 after winning its second GDFNL premiership in three years the year before.
Kelly is the current president of the Lara Sporting Club, a role he has held since 2016.
“He set the tone and set the standard, taking us from the GDFL to the GFL,” Cats co-coach Shayne Stone said.
“He was the catalyst for the flag in (19)94.
“The work they (the committee) did coming in in ’89, to be able to get a flag in ’94, and the way he operates is very professional.
“His work in footy in general, whatever he puts his hand to, he does it 100 per cent.”
Lara will be boosted by the return of co-coach Devon Smith for his fourth game of the season and Jake Marshall’s first appearance of the season against the Supersaints.
However, Werribee-listed midfielder Connor Thar will unlikely return until next week’s Paddy Cahir Cup meeting with North Shore.
Bailey Ettridge might not play again this year after turning his hand to punting in the hopes of landing a US College scholarship.
“He’s got the opportunity to go down that path,” Stone said.
“He’s needed some time off to get some studies done and get some criteria ticked off before he can have a red-hot crack at that.
“He did some initial testing, and he showed a lot of positives in that.
“It could be a massive opportunity for him.”
GFNL: AT SELECTION – ST ALBANS VS. LARA
A day out for Mitch Day could see the Lara star reach a goal-kicking milestone, with six goals required for 300 at GFNL level.
The Supersaints have made five changes, including three debutants.
Former Leopold junior Christopher Jreige, Caroline Springs recruit Mitch Gilbert, and one-time Sunraysia League representative Jacob Whitfield will make their maiden senior appearances for the club.
Whitfield played four senior games for GDFNL club Geelong West last year.
Tom Caudullo and Zac Larkins return, with Ollie Boothey, Ben Wolfenden, Campbell Sunderland, Ben Gadd, and Nathan Pearson omitted.
X: @krockfootball
