Star Eagles grounded, but big names return

East Geelong has made five handy inclusions but will be without a couple of key players for the mouth-watering match-up with North Geelong at Richmond Crescent.

Playing coach Ned Aulsebrook, Galen Munari, Jake McLean, Jacob Nolan and Caleb Ezard are back for the Eagles, with Ezard to make his first senior appearance since the Round 3 clash with the Magpies.

His return is timely, with East’s leading goalkicker Zac Smith sidelined with a calf injury suffered late in the narrow win over Bannockburn before last week’s bye.

“He’s had some scans to indicate how good or bad it was, and it looks like it might only be another week or two,” Aulsebrook said.

“He was out there running around last night in match sim; probably going a little bit harder than I would have liked him to.

“But, he’s always keen to put his hand up.

“We’ll hold Zach back this week, and we’ll reassess next week and into the week after.”

East has also lost defender Jayden Fanning to a minor ankle injury suffered during training last night, joining Mitch Wright and Sam King, who are both overseas, and Patrick Visentin in going out of the team that defeated the Tigers.

The previous meeting at Keith Barclay Oval resulted in a two-point win for North Geelong.

However, Aulsebrook is the first to admit that the margin flattered the Eagles.

“I know the scoreboard said it was under a goal, but it felt like they sort of controlled the game, (and) they defended the ground really well,” Aulsebrook said.

“They scored goals easily, and we had to work for all of our goals.

“We were a completely different side then, and so were they. I think they’ve improved a lot since then, too.

“It’s going to be a really good challenge. I know they’ve had a month where they probably haven’t had the results that they would like.

“But they’ve got some pretty good cattle coming back in this week, too, and I know Pete (Riccardi) will have them flying and up and about for tomorrow.

“We certainly know that it’s going to be a hot contest.”

North, which re-signed Riccardi for a further two years earlier this week, has also made five changes.

Osca Riccardi, Cooper Pasque, Ben O’Brien, Jasper George and Blake Miller have all been named.

Bannockburn has been forced into five changes for its must-win meeting with Inverleigh at Inverleigh Reserve.

The talented Rob Maibaum (hand), Louis Clifton (hamstring), Cooper Edwards (knee) and experienced brothers Tristan (shin) and Lachie Battaglia (overseas) are the outs for the Tigers, who could find themselves five games outside the top five with five rounds to play if they can’t overcome the Hawks.

The Tigers will get back Harry Lear and Rhys Ginn, with Luke Young, Brodie Harding, and Sam Giles promoted from the reserves.

Inverleigh, which can pull to within a game of the top five with victory and a Werribee Centrals upset of Bell Post Hill, welcomes back Guy O’Keefe, Dan Maher and Billy McIntosh.

However, Brayden Warren is unavailable, with Cam Sewell and Ethan Clohesy returning to the reserves.

Werribee Centrals will welcome back Bradley Carlton and Liam Robinson at the expense of Ethan Gibson and Liam Porter for its last roll of the dice meeting with Bell Post Hill at Myers Reserve.

A loss to the fifth-placed Panthers would leave last year’s beaten semi-finalists top-five hopes on life support.

However, victory would close the gap to 12 points with five rounds remaining.

Bell Post Hill, which can open up a 12-point break with a win, will take in the same team that took care of North Geelong before the bye.