Colac coach Rowan McSparron is confident that the Adam Garner-Luke Hillman forward combination can impact the club’s premiership aspirations in the second half of the season.
Playing together for the first time in 2024 in last week’s hiding of St Albans, the star pair kicked eight goals apiece.
Garner took his tally for the season to 43, 13 clear of St Joseph’s star Paddy De Grandi and South Barwon gun Fraser Fort.
“One’s going to be high, and one’s going to be deep,” McSparron told krockfootball.live.
“So, Hillman will work higher up the ground and Adam will be closer to goal, which is usually the way we like to play it.
“Luke’s ability to get up (and) then back, at pace, is probably as good as anyone in the comp.
“It’s good having him back out there.”
Tomorrow’s meeting with the unbeaten St Joseph’s starts what McSparron expects will be a season-defining month for Colac.
After the bye, the Tigers will face Bell Park and Leopold at home on either side of a trip to Elderslie Reserve for a meeting with Newtown & Chilwell.
“It certainly is (season-defining), and that’s exciting,” McSparron said. “If you want to play finals, you’ve got to beat those teams around you.
“Bell Park’s had a really solid start, Leopold are in really solid form and starting to get a few back, and Joeys are sitting on top undefeated and looking a real threat.
“It’s going to be a great challenge.”
Colac has named an extended squad for tomorrow, with key defender Jarryn McCormack and talented youngster Tobyn Murray both named.
Joeys have named star half-back Jack Buckley for his first game since suffering a foot injury in the win over Bell Park in Round 5.
Geelong Falcon Liam Kershaw is also part of the squad.
GFNL: – AT SELECTION – ROUND 11 (PART 1)
St Mary’s will be boosted by the return of captain Jack Blood and the experienced Zak Sherman for its krockfootball.live meeting with Bell Park at Anthony Costa Oval.
They replace Noah Biggs and Luke Bartolo.
The Dragons’ final team will be impacted by Geelong VFL selection.
Former Richmond rookie Kaelan Bradtke is in the Bell Park team at this stage after being named as an emergency for the Cats, but midfielder Hamish Lucas has been named for another appearance in the Hoops.
Leopold has named an unchanged line-up for its clash with Newtown & Chilwell at Memorial Park.
James Edmonds, Jye Cross, and Jake Edwards’s selection as emergencies reflect the Lions’ depth.
The Eagles, whose hopes of a fourth consecutive finals appearance were all but killed off by last week’s loss to Grovedale, welcome back Zach Walter but lose Joe McDonald.
Geelong Falcon Edan Ibbetson is set to debut at Archie Lazzaro’s expense.
Geelong West has named Tylar Watts despite the star ruck being forced from the field after an incident in the first half of last week’s loss to St Joseph’s.
However, veteran forward Patrick Eastman isn’t in the team for a crucial meeting with South Barwon at West Oval.
At this stage, the Swans have named an unchanged team, with Taylor Mulraney and Will Sexton, who missed last week’s loss to Leopold, listed among the emergencies.
Harley McCarthy, Harrison Whyte and Mitch Fisher return as Grovedale chases consecutive wins for the first time since Round 14, 2022, when it meets North Shore at Windsor Park.
They replace the omitted trio of Tom Degoldi, Samuel Radcliffe, and Joe McCarthy.
The Seagulls have named first-gamer Harry Richmond from Tasmanian State League club Lauderdale.
Co-captain Brad Gerrard and Will Milsome return for their first games since rounds 6 and 4, respectively.
St Albans and Lara will enjoy the weekend off before meeting in a standalone match at St Albans Reserve next Saturday, July 6.
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