EFL Division 3: Glen Waverley dealt double blow ahead of crucial clash

The Division 3 Hawks have farewelled a key forward while a gun midfielder has been ruled out for the season ahead of a crunch-game.

GLEN WAVERLEY is set to be without two of its key names for the remainder of the season.

The Eastern league Division 3 club has farewelled tall forward Louis Holmes who has relocated interstate for work, while younger brother and midfielder Max has sustained a season-ending wrist injury.

They’re significant outs for the Hawks, who sit just outside the division’s relegation zone in seventh spot on percentage, with two sides set to face the drop at the end of the season.

They play an in-form Ferntree Gully (ninth) this weekend in a clash which could influence the relegation battle.

Glen Waverley will be without guns Louis and Max Holmes for the year. Picture: GWFC

The Holmes brothers joined Glen Waverley from St Mary’s Salesian ahead of this season, with Louis kicking 17 goals from six matches – including a bag of five in last weekend’s loss to Fairpark.

Max, who took out St Mary’s Salesian’s best and fairest in 2021, has featured in eight matches for the Hawks this year.

Glen Waverley senior coach Brett Gatehouse said while losing a key forward was far from ideal, other options could be available to fill the void.

He pointed to young gun Connor Cochrane as one possibility, who has impressed as a tall prospect, highlighted by a best afield ruck display against Whitehorse.

“We knew there was a possibility it (Louis’ departure) might happen … we’ve known about it for a few weeks now – he didn’t just spring it on us,” Gatehouse said.

“We’ve got a few players we think we can stick down there, but it’s pretty much the story of our year having to change the magnets around to try and make something happen.

“Young Connor Cochrane generally plays a bit higher up the ground, so we might try and get him a bit closer to goal.

“A couple of our backmen might make a bit of a switch as well. It’s going to be a real flip of the magnets to try and make something happen.”

Max Holmes will undergo surgery this week, joining midfielder Nick Bussell (ACL) on the sidelines for the rest of the season.

“We’ve just got to deal with it and keep pushing … we’ve done well and we’ve been up against it this year so far, so I’ll back the boys in to come through again,” Gatehouse said.

The Hawks fell five points short of Fairpark last Saturday, which is also fighting relegation from Division 3.

But Gatehouse isn’t having a bar of the dreaded “R-word” as his side prepares for this weekend’s clash.

“I would say for the first time this year, the effort just wasn’t there in the first half,” Gatehouse said of last weekend’s loss.

“Ferntree Gully are in some serious form, they’ve improved out of sight so we’ll have to get to work, and as long as finals are a mathematical chance, we’ll just keep pushing towards that.”