Wonthaggi forward Jordan Staley back for finals after injury

A finals selection bombshell has been made in the Gippsland league. See who is back for Wonthaggi.

Wonthaggi has recalled key forward Jordan Staley after an extended break due to injury for the Gippsland league second semi-final against arch-rival Leongatha at Moe on Saturday.

Staley hasn’t played since the last time the two teams met in early July when he suffered a broken collarbone and thumb in an incident that led to Leongatha player Jack Ginnane being outed for eight matches.

Ginnane mounted an unsuccessful bid in the Supreme Court this week to also return for finals.

Wonthaggi coach Jarryn Blair. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Wonthaggi coach Jarryd Blair declared Staley “good to go” against Leongatha.

“We were unsure if he’d get back,” Blair said.

“It was touch and go.

“We just hoped that the surgery went well.

“He had a couple of months off work and what not.”

Leongatha thrashed Wonthaggi by 56 points the last time the two teams met.

It will be the first time the two clubs have met in a final since Wonthaggi returned to the Gippsland league.

“They just got a jump on us (last time),” Blair said.

“You can’t give the best side in the comp an eight goal start.

“We’re going in with the mindset that we’ve got nothing to lose and we just get to have a crack at the best side in the comp.”

Aaron Heppell, who previously played at VFL level for Essendon, is back for GFL second semi-final. Picture: Michael Klein

Staley had been averaging more than two goals a game until he was injured.

Leongatha has been further bolstered by the return of Cade Maskell and Aaron Heppell, the younger brother of Essendon captain Dyson, for the second semi-final.

GOULBURN VALLEY

Echuca has been forced to go into Saturday’s qualifying final against Mansfield without ruckman Kane Morris.

Morris was suspended for carelessly striking a Mooroopna opponent, but teammate and key defender Curtis Townrow, who also went up to the tribunal this week, is right to play.

Echuca ruckman Kane Morris, right, will miss the qualifying final. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

He was offered a two week set penalty, but Echuca fought the rough conduct charge and Townrow was found not guilty.

Echuca welcomes back star midfielder Ben Reid against the in-form Mansfield, but his brother Sam remains in some doubt for the second week of finals with a hamstring injury.

OVENS AND MURRAY

Yarrawonga has rolled out its strongest line-up for the season for the qualifying final against Albury at Wangaratta on Saturday.

The big inclusion for Yarrawonga is former Carlton player Michael Gibbons, who hasn’t played since round 15 against Corowa-Rutherglen.

Yarrawonga boom recruit Michael Gibbons. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Yarrawonga has also brought in draft prospect Caleb Mitchell after the Murray Bushrangers exited the finals last week.

Defender Jye Cross is the unlucky player squeezed of the Yarrawonga team due to player points.

He is a three point player and Yarrawonga will play at or near its maximum 40 points with the return of Gibbons.