Myrtleford, Traralgon, Echuca, Whorouly: Major selection moves for weekend round

A former AFL star has been rushed in for an Ovens and Murray club that is fighting to retain its top-five spot.

Former Western Bulldogs captain Ryan Griffen will make his debut for Myrtleford in the Ovens and Murray league tomorrow against Corowa-Rutherglen.

Griffen has been brought straight in to the senior side, which is coming off a second loss this season to Lavington last Saturday and under pressure to keep its top-five spot.

The dual Bulldogs best and fairest winner has reunited with former teammate Dawson Simpson at Myrtleford after the pair previously played together at GWS.

Ryan Griffen and Leon Cameron in 2018 (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Myrtleford will be without former Goulburn Valley league best and fairest Sam Martyn after heading overseas for a mid-season holiday.

Traralgon has been forced to leave out boom recruit Brett Eddy due to a hamstring injury he sustained two weeks ago against Maffra.

Eddy had booted three goals before being forced from the ground.

Traralgon won the match by 18 points to rise to second on the ladder behind the undefeated Leongatha.

Former Port Adelaide forward Brett Eddy is playing for Traralgon this year, but will miss the clash against Leongatha tomorrow due to injury.

Traralgon coach Jake Best graded Eddy’s hamstring injury as “slight” and expected him to be back next week.

Leongatha is three games clear on top of the ladder and presently on a record-equalling winning streak of 17 matches.

But Leongatha has two notable outs for the match in centre half-back Matt Willcocks and back flanker Cade Maskell.

In the Goulburn Valley league, former Melbourne defender Marty Hore has been selected to make his debut for ladder leader Echuca tomorrow.

Hore, who was delisted by the Demons at the end of last year, nominated Echuca as his home club when he joined North Melbourne’s VFL team.

The Kangaroos VFL team has the bye this weekend and Echuca plays Shepparton United at Deakin Reserve.

Hore is originally from Leitchville and played 14 matches for Melbourne.

Eddie Betts is playing another country game tomorrow for Ovens and King league club Whorouly.

Benalla has taken a big step towards avoiding the wooden spoon in the Goulburn Valley league with the signing of former junior Jarrad Waite for the rest of the season.

The recruiting coup comes after a breakthrough win against Shepparton Swans last round.

Before the season started, Benalla revealed it was struggling to have enough players to field a reserves team and was forced to forfeit some games.

Benalla had lost two games by under a goal to Tatura and Shepparton United before downing the Swans by 19 points.

Club president Lloyd Johnson confirmed 39-year-old Waite was returning to his original club after playing 244 matches with Carlton and North Melbourne.

“He has registered with us this morning and is finishing the season off with Benalla,” Johnson said.

“He has got a lot of mates in Benalla and we’re hoping to get four or five games out of him.

“But he has got a two week suspension to serve first.”

Waite has been playing at Whittlesea and previously played for VAFA powerhouse St Kevins Old Boys.

Former GWS Giants ruckman Tom Downie was best on ground for Benalla last Saturday. Picture: Toby Zerna

Last Saturday Benalla welcomed back another former junior who has played at AFL level, Tom Downie, with the 203cm ruckman best on ground in the win against Shepparton Swans.

Johnson said the club was determined to avoid the wooden spoon.

“We knew right at the start of the year what it was going to be like,” he said.

“But everyone has stuck together.”

Co-coaches Will Martiniello and Mark McKenzie have committed to coach again in 2023.