Lavington will be without four-time Doug Strang Medal winner Adam Prior for another month.
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Prior has been working in South Australia and played his first game in the reserves on Good Friday.
He failed to kick a goal, but in his defence it was a tough night for the Panthers, kicking only 3.8 in falling by 60 points.
Prior will now return to SA for a short-term stay.
“Yeah, likely to miss the next couple, then in and around that interleague bye we’d like to see him back,” Lavington coach James Saker said.
The league’s eagerly-anticipated clash against Goulburn Valley is set down for Wodonga’s John Flower Oval on May 13.
Lavington will receive the benefit of the split rounds though, with a home game against Myrtleford on Saturday, followed by an away clash to battling Wangaratta Rovers on May 6.
Yeah, likely to miss the next couple, then in and around that interleague bye we’d like to see him back.
- James Saker
The Panthers are missing their three key forwards from last year, with Justin Koschitzke at Brock-Burrum, while interleague player Andrew Dess is yet to play due to work commitments.
Centre half-forward and captain Luke Garland was also forced to miss the clash.
Adam Flagg impressed, particularly early against the Bulldogs, kicking three goals, while the rugged Jack Nunn chipped in with a double.
Lavington’s clinical defence restricted Wodonga to only seven goals.
It was a body blow for the Bulldogs, but coach Dean Harding was delighted with the debut of Collingwood VFL defender Ryan Pendlebury.
“He was terrific, we had some effort-measurement stats and he was a mile in front of everyone,” he said.
There’s two more games when Collingwood doesn’t play, but Wodonga does.
The Bulldogs are home to Yarrawonga on May 27 and away against Myrtleford on June 17.
Wodonga will now play arch-rival Raiders on Anzac Day, with the latter desperate to bounce back after a 10-goal loss to Wangaratta.