YARRAWONGA is set to unleash AFL prospect Dan Howe for the first time this season in Saturday’s second semi-final against Albury.
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Howe, who has been projected as a near certain selection at the upcoming national draft, hasn’t played for the Pigeons this year but could be rushed into their team for the grand final qualifier at Corowa’s John Foord Oval.
Howe, 18, is a defender who stands at more than 190 centimetres and shapes as a huge inclusion at the business end of the season after the Murray Bushrangers were bundled out of the TAC Cup finals on Sunday.
The Rennie product spent the majority of last month playing with Richmond’s VFL team before returning for the Bushrangers with a best on ground showing at the weekend.
Yarrawonga co-coach Chris Kennedy said he would have no hesitation throwing Howe into the heat of an O and M final.
“Not at all,” Kennedy said.
“We’ll discuss it all as a match committee during the week but it’s finals and, in my opinion, you pick your best side.
“We’ll speak to Dan about where he’s at this week, how he has pulled up, and go from there.
“Brady (Pritchard) is the other one.
“He’s played a few games for us.
“They’re both quality kids who have done everything with us when available.”
In a further boost, former SANFL utility Michael Handby made a successful return via the reserves on Saturday and will come under serious consideration.
The hard part will be finding players to drop after Yarrawonga brushed aside Lavington by 29 points in Saturday’s qualifying final.
“It’s always tough at this time of year,” Kennedy said.
Albury and Lavington also look set to be buoyed by TAC Cup players in the run home.
The Tigers have a handful of youngsters available, while Brydan Hodgson shapes as a valuable inclusion for the Panthers.
Hodgson is unavailable for Sunday’s first semi-final against Wangaratta Rovers but is free to play in the preliminary final, should Lavington make it.