A patched-up Lavington will field virtually half its full-strength line-up in Saturday’s grand final re-match against Albury.
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The Panthers will be without nine players it would have been banking on only two months ago.
Boom defenders James Saker (suspended), Brant Dickson (knee) and Will Lenehan (unavailable) join Adam Prior and Andrew Dess (unavailable) on the list.
Lenehan was strong against Raiders last weekend, but is now doing his work placement as a physio in Vietnam for a month.
John Hunt (knee), Sam Harris (back), John-Roy Williams (hamstring) and Adam Flagg (thumb) are the others missing, while star defender Nick Meredith returns to the VFL after starring against Raiders.
“I know everyone talks about the injuries, but that’s just footy,” Flagg said.
“I know everyone has injuries, we’ve obviously got a couple more than we’d like to.”
To make matters worse, Albury has added former AFL midfielder Daniel Cross and ex-SANFL star Brayden O’Hara.
Interestingly, recruit Erish Uthayakumar, who sits equal fourth on the goalkickers’ list, has been named as an emergency.
The teams are fierce rivals so given Albury’s ruthlessness, there’s little chance of complacency.
“I suppose Lavington is that club that tries to build a culture around anyone that comes in, bring that defensive mindset to the game,” Flagg said.
“Hopefully the senior players, like Luke Garland, can step up and no doubt the young blokes will follow them.”
I suppose Lavington is that club that tries to build a culture around anyone that comes in, bring that defensive mindset. Hopefully the senior players, like Luke Garland, can step up and no doubt the young blokes will follow them.
- Adam Flagg
If Lavington toppled the Tigers at the Albury Sportsground, it would be one of the finest wins in the club’s 38-year history in the O and M.
Albury won the grand final by 40 points in the pouring rain at the Lavington Sportsground and the weakened Panthers will start outsiders to keep the margin within that mark, particularly given the fine forecast.
The Tigers are coming off a bruising clash against Myrtleford, racking up a 49-point win, while Lavington smashed Wodonga Raiders.