Goulburn Valley: Shepparton launching last-minute appeal to have Luke Smith play in grand final
There is no shortage of news in the lead-up to country footy grand finals with one club mounting a last-ditch attempt to have a star player available.
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The countdown is on for a bumper weekend of country footy grand final action with clubs chasing premiership glory naming their teams overnight or still tinkering with their final line-ups.
GOULBURN VALLEY
Shepparton is mounting a last-ditch attempt to have Luke Smith available to play in the grand final against hot favourites Echuca at Deakin Reserve on Sunday.
Smith, who was a member of the Bears’ last flag in 2018, was suspended for two matches for striking Rochester opponent Hamish Heine early in the preliminary final last Sunday.
GOULBURN VALLEY: Shepparton Bears heading to appeal in bid to have star play available for grand final against Echuca. @theweeklytimespic.twitter.com/rJZIPrF4Al
— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) September 20, 2024
Smith was offered a one-match ban with an early guilty plea for the incident near the boundary line, but elected to go to the tribunal where the two-match ban was upheld.
The Bears have appealed the penalty to AFL Victoria with the hearing to be held late on Friday.
Echuca is going into the grand final with an unchanged line-up after beating Shepparton and Rochester in its two finals matches.
BENDIGO
Sandhurst has brought back two players including co-coach Bryce Curnow for the grand final against Gisborne at Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.
The Dragons came from 15 points down at three quarter time of the preliminary final to beat Strathfieldsaye and will be strengthened by the return of Curnow from a corked thigh and ruckman Connor Sexton from a slight hamstring injury.
Sexton has been named in the ruck to play on Gisborne’s Braidon Blake, who tied with teammate Brad Bernacki and Sandhurst star Lachlan Tardrew in the Michelsen Medal count earlier this week.
The two unlucky players to miss for Sandhurst are Wilson Butler and Tanny Nally.
Gisborne’s Shane Clough will miss the grand final after suffering a broken jaw in the opening minutes of the second semi-final win against Sandhurst.
CENTRAL MURRAY
Kerang has recalled Adam Baird for the grand final at Swan Hill after the former Mt Pleasant and Golden Square star suffered a hamstring injury on the eve of finals.
Baird co-coached Mt Pleasant to the flag in the Heathcote District league last year and joined Kerang this season.
He is a big occasion player after also winning flags with Golden Square, winning the Bendigo league Michelsen Medal in 2019 and captaining Vic Country.
Sam Nitschke is the hard luck story to miss out for Kerang after playing 17 matches at senior level this season.
Nyah Nyah West United, which is aiming to win its first flag since going back-to-back in 2000-01 will take an unchanged line-up into the grand final after beating Mallee Eagles in the preliminary final.
HAMPDEN
South Warrnambool has been bolstered by the addition of Jay Rantall for the grand final against North Warrnambool at Reid Oval.
Rantall has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since South’s last round win against Portland.
“We probably could have pressed the button on Jay last week, but we went ultraconservative as you need to do at this time of the year,” South coach Mat Battistello told Hampden League Live.
In addition to his nine appearances for South, Rantall has played four matches for Werribee, which is playing Southport in the VFL grand final on Sunday.
North’s major injury concern heading into the match, backman Jarryd Lewis, has been given the all clear to play after sitting out the final quarter of the second semi-final win with a calf injury.
North has won its last two encounters against South including the second semi-final and its line-up includes three former AFL players, coach Nathan Vardy, Michael Barlow and Steven Motlop.
GIPPSLAND
Traralgon has made one forced change for the grand final against Leongatha at Morwell on Saturday.
Kade Ruyters is the hard luck story after breaking his hand in the preliminary final win against Moe.
He hasn’t missed a match since breaking into the senior team in round five.
The Maroons have brought back Jordan Cunico, who missed the preliminary final with a foot injury, after hitting top form in the second half of the season.
Leongatha has left out forward Jack Ginnane as it attempts to win three successive flags for the first time in the Gippsland league.
Ginnane has played every match this season, but his spot has been taken by defender Sam Forrester, who hasn’t played since round 17 and missed the second semi-final win against Moe.
OVENS & MURRAY
Yarrawonga is poised to regain forward Nic Fothergill for the grand final against Wangarata Rovers at Lavington on Sunday.
Fothergill last played for the Pigeons in round 17 when he strained his hamstring.
He underwent a fitness test on Thursday and, subject to any further setbacks, will play against the Rovers, who have recalled Dylan Stone after he missed the preliminary final against North Albury.
WIMMERA
Southern Mallee Thunder has been forced to leave out Oscar Smith for the grand final against Ararat due to injury with his spot being taken Tom Schumann.
Ararat is expected to go in with an unchanged line-up from the team that broke away in the last term to beat Thunder in the second semi-final.
MURRAY
Congupna has made one change for the grand final against Finley with forward Hugo Ingham returning for his first match at senior level since mid-July.
Ingham has played in Congupna reserves’ three finals matches before earning a recall at the expense of Keegan Donovan.
Finley has not named regular fullback Jesse McDonald, who limped off with an ankle injury in the narrow preliminary final win against Moama.
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Originally published as Goulburn Valley: Shepparton launching last-minute appeal to have Luke Smith play in grand final
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