HEDIN OUT OF THE SIDE: Wangaratta's Matt Hedin will miss at least a month after fracturing his wrist in the last quarter of the Magpies' loss to the Rovers at W.J. Findlay Oval on Sunday. Picture: MARK JESSER

WANGARATTA will be without seven top-line players for Saturday’s crunch clash against North Albury at Norm Minns Oval.

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Michael Newton (calf), Kris Zane (knee), Matt Hedin (wrist) and Michael Bordignon (ribs) will all be sidelined until at least the end of May after a bruising Wangaratta derby on Sunday.

Daniel Sharrock has been called up by the Murray Bushrangers while Judd Porter (elbow) and Brad Melville (ankle) won’t return for the Magpies until round seven against Myrtleford.

Wangaratta coach Brendan Cairns said Newton was unlikely to be back for the Magpies before round nine against Wodonga, meaning he is unlikely to be fit to represent the Ovens and Murray on May 21.

The former Melbourne forward limped off in the opening minutes of Sunday’s derby with a calf strain while Zane left the field on a stretcher early in the last quarter after dislocating his knee cap.

Hedin played out the final term with a fractured wrist because the Magpies had no fit men on the bench once Bordignon left the field with cracked ribs.

“Injuries are a part of footy and injuries create opportunity,” Cairns said.

“I like to look at the exciting part of it, we’ll get to play some players who haven’t played before and bring in some young fellas who will add some experience, a bit of zip and a bit of flair.”

Wangaratta brought in first-gamers Joe Richards and Declan Hoy-Maroney along with Zach Hedin, David Thayer and Gerard Sharrock for the match against the Hoppers, who have impressed with their pace and ball movement in their 3-2 start to the season.

Injuries are a part of footy and injuries create opportunity.
- Wangaratta coach Brendan Cairns

Clinton Gilson will play his first senior match for North Albury in almost a decade while Jason Akermanis and Rory Muggivan are among the inclusions for the Hoppers. Lachie Taylor-Nugent, who impressed against Albury on Anzac Day, will miss the match against the Magpies.

Albury recalled Michael Thompson from a hamstring injury to face Wodonga Raiders but lost Setanta O’hAilpin to a corked leg. Raiders Skipper Jack Di Mizio (groin) and defender Nick Shelley (ankle) drop out of the side that defeated Wodonga.

Matt Pendergast, Justin Koschitzke and Tom Hargreave return for Lavington, who will be desperate to return to the winner’s list against the Bulldogs.