Gippsland: Will Hayes to make debut for Gippsland club Warragul

A large contingent of VFL stars are heading back to country footy on Saturday. But there are also some notable omissions.

Former Goulburn Valley superstar Will Hayes has been picked to make his debut for Gippsland leauge club Warragul on Saturday.

After dominating for Euroa in recent seasons, Hayes finished off last year playing for Carlton’s VFL team and is free to debut for Warragul against Morwell with the state league having a bye for the VFL-SANFL interstate match as part of Gather Round in Adelaide.

Warragul has also named Koby Grass, who is on Sydney’s VFL list.

Grass is originally from Pakenham, but has previously played at under-18 level for Warragul, which is coming off a one-point win over flag fancy Wonthaggi.

Will Hayes playing for Carlton’s VFL team in 2022. Photo: Russell Freeman

Hayes’ Carlton VFL teammate Cooper Vickery hasn’t been named for his original club Bairnsdale, which plays Drouin in round 2.

Reigning Gippsland league best and fairest Riley Baldi is back to Moe after playing the first three matches for the season for Casey Demons’ VFL team.

Baldi had more than 30 touches in the first two rounds.

South Warrnambool welcomes back 2024 premiership teammates Archie Stevens and Jay Rantall from Carlton and Geelong respectively for the Hampden league clash against last year’s runner-up North Warrnambool.

Bendigo club Eaglehawk has named former Brisbane VFL player Joel Budarick, but has not named Coburg VFL trio Jesse Corigliano, Lachlan Walker and Max Kennedy to play Golden Square.

Former Brisbane VFL player Joel Budarick will debut for Eaglehawk in round 1. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Corigliano is battling an ankle injury, but Walker and Kennedy could play against South Bendigo in round 3 when Coburg has another bye.

Castlemaine has named Ryan Eyre, Ronald Fejo and Zach Greeves, who are on the Collingwood, Northern Bullants and Sandringham lists respectively.

Castlemaine plays reigning premier Sandhurst in round 1.

Ovens & Murray club North Albury welcomes back Jackson Weideman who has played the first three VFL rounds for Northern Bullants.

VFL BUSH BOOST

Country footy clubs all over Victoria are banking on having VFL-listed players available for one of the rare times in the 2025 season on Saturday due to the competition-wide bye.

But former Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell, who is making a second successive appearance for Leongatha at home in the Gippsland league, won’t be one of them.

In a surprise move, Heppell played round 1 against reigning premier Traralgon with his VFL club having a bye, raising hopes he will qualify for finals later in the year.

But Leongatha coach Trent McMicking said Heppell wouldn’t play at home against Sale with the former AFL star heading interstate for the weekend.

“I don’t know whether we will get four games out of him, I honestly don’t,” McMicking said.

“But him playing in round 1 was a really big boost for the boys.

“He played well.

“It was just a shame it wasn’t a home game, but hopefully we can get that in some time during the year.”

Dyson Heppell playing for Leongatha against Traralgon in the opening round of the Gippsland league on Saturday. Picture: Daniel Heathcote

Heppell had 27 touches for Leongatha and his brother Aaron also starred in their first senior match together.

Aaron travelled overseas last year and last played when Leongatha won the 2023 grand final against Wonthaggi.

Kaine Baldwin, another Port Melbourne player aligned to Leongatha, will miss most of the season after undergoing recent foot surgery.

Leongatha’s other two VFL-listed players, Jenson Garnham and Pat Ireland, played in the win against Traralgon.

Garnham was restricted to three quarters on the comeback trail from injury.

Warragul coach Jed Lamb said he was hopeful of having VFL trio Will Hayes (Carlton), Liam Serong (Coburg) and Koby Grass (Sydney) available to play against Morwell.

Warragul upset flag fancy Wonthaggi by one point in round 1.

Frankston’s Tom Murphy is aligned to another Gippsland club Moe, but is in the mix to play for the VFL against the SANFL in Adelaide on Saturday.

Riley Mason playing for Collingwood’s VFL team. (Photo by Rob Lawson/AFL Photos)

One player almost certain to be unavailable for his Goulburn Valley club is Riley Mason, who is in line for a call up to the VFL squad.

The Seymour star kicked five goals for Collingwood’s VFL team on Sunday.

VFL reigning premier Werribee has a large contingent of country players on its list with Ryan Eyers (Corowa-Rutherglen), Anthony DePasquale (Kyabram), Jacob Lohmann (Lake Wendouree), Mace Cousins (Darley), Myles McCluggage and Jay Rantall (South Warrnambool), Sam Azzi (North Albury), Jackson Grundy (North Warrnambool) and Angus Hicks (Shepparton United) all potentially heading bush this weekend.

Cobram’s Louis Pinnuck and North Albury’s Dom Brew, who also play for Werribee, are in line for selection to make the trip to Adelaide.