Gold Coast Football Club will make three changes to its line up ahead of it game against the Essendon-aligned Bendigo Bombers at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo on Saturday at 12.10pm.
Nathan Ablett will miss due to a burst blood vessel in his leg. Matthew Fowler makes his VFL debut in Ablett’s place. Danny Stanley and Luke Shreeve will be rested while experienced midfielder Daniel Harris and livewire forward Alik Magin return to the team.
The team is:
B Jack HUTCHINS Michael GUGLIOTTA Taylor HINE
HB Todd GRAYSON Michael COAD Matthew SHAW
C Joey DAYE Trent McKENZIE HF Luke RUSSELL Charlie DIXON Liam PATRICK
F Brandon MATERA Matthew FOWLER (debut) Alik MAGIN
R Zac SMITH Maverick WELLER Daniel HARRIS Roland AH CHEE
INT Tim PLUMMER Sam ILES Rex LIDDY David SWALLOW Marc LOCK (c)
IN: Matthew FOWLER (debut), Daniel HARRIS, Alik MAGIN
OUT: Nathan ABLETT (injured), Daniel STANLEY (rested), Luke SHREEVE (rested)
INJURIES: Nathan ABLETT (leg)
Senior Coach Guy McKenna says the absence of his go-to forward creates opportunities.
“Nathan Ablett’s burst a blood vessel in his leg. Our motto is ‘when in doubt, rule them out’ so Nathan won’t play. But other than that forced change, we’re keen to see how the four new fellows who played last week go interstate. Chook Fowler been showing some form in the AFLQ and gets his chance. We have plenty of options.”
With the relatively seasoned Sam Iles and Danny Stanley filling the void left by the rested Daniel Harris last week, McKenna was also happy to see younger inclusions Roland Ah Chee, Joey Daye, Tim Plummer and Todd Grayson make a near seamless transition into the starting line up.
“Roly Ah Chee put his head over the ball and used the ball well, Tim Plummer came in and did what we expected of him in the ruck, Joey Daye provided plenty of the run which he does so well and could have kicked a goal and set up one or two others if he wasn’t so tired at the end of those long gallops of his, Grayson off half back held his own against blokes a fair bit quicker than him but he still put his head down and his backside up and took no prisoners. So all of that was really positive.”
Just two weeks ago, Werribee piled on 4.5 in the last quarter to GCFC’s 1.3 to pinch an unlikely draw. Back then McKenna was ruing his side’s physical inability to match the strength and stamina of older opposition. Last week, both GCFC and Casey Scorpions kicked 2.3 apiece in the final term with GCFC clearly the more energetic side in the dying moments. McKenna praised his troops for finishing strongly.
“We definitely ran out the game well. And you think about it, Danny Stanley missed one he probably should have kicked, Liam Patrick sprayed one because he kicked it too hard, and I’m probably being a bit harsh on Rexy Liddy, but I reckon if he had his time over again he might opt for a drop punt instead of what he did. Add all that together and all of a sudden you’re 5.0 instead of 2.3 and you’ve won by ten.”
• Top heavy with Essendon-listed talent – Laycock, Houli, Jetta, Skipworth, Bellchambers, Skipworth, former Blue Jason Cloke and former Hawk Mark Williams are all likely starters - Bendigo Bombers are coming off three straight wins and sit fourth on the VFL ladder.
• Midfielder Roland Ah Chee, rebounding defender Joey Daye, ruckman Tim Plummer and hard nut utility Todd Grayson all make their second VFL appearances for the club after being called into the side last week.
• Roland Ah Chee was once a national top twenty under 16 tennis player who was twice invited by tennis great Yvonne Goolagong-Cawley to her prestigious tennis development camps in Melbourne.
• Joey Daye’s godfather is Essendon legend, dual premiership player and 1993 Norm Smith Medallist, Michael Long.
• It is a testament to the increasing improvement of the playing list that Mathew ‘Chook’ Fowler is only now forcing his way into the starting side - last year he finished second in GCFC’s best and fairest.
