The return of Lavington’s ‘big three’ forwards will make them “unstoppable” away to Corowa-Rutherglen on Saturday, according to the club’s milestone man.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tom Hargreave will play his 100th game against the Roos.
“It means a lot to play for ‘Lavi’, it’s just a great club and a great culture, I like being a part of it,” he said.
The Panthers bounced back from their loss to Wangaratta with a 56-point win over Myrtleford.
But the team is far stronger with the return of Brant Dickson, captain Luke Garland and Adam Prior.
“It will be huge, that’s three big forwards and that probably frees up Adam Flagg and Andrew Dess as well,” he said.
“If we can get some good delivery to them, they’ll be unstoppable I think.
“I assume probably we’ll have either ‘Dicko’ or ‘Adsy’ Prior down deep and probably ‘Flaggy’ and ‘Dessy’ will play off the half-forward flank, getting up the ground a bit more.”
Dickson has missed the past two games after injuring his hamstring in the season-opener against Wodonga on Good Friday.
It will be Prior’s first senior game since last year’s first semi-final after carrying a knee injury out of the game.
The prospect of the returning trio, along with the energetic Marty Brennan and veteran Matt Pendergast moving through the forward line, makes Lavington one of the most dangerous attacking outfits.
Both teams boast a two-one win-loss record, but the Roos will start outsiders.
However, the Panthers have been impressed by the home team’s early season form.
“It’s never easy down at Corowa,” Hargreave said of the league’s surprise packets of the first month.
“We don’t really know what to expect.”
The Roos only profile recruit – former Goulburn Valley star Shaun Huy – is out with soreness, while another veteran in defender Kade Kuschert returns.
The round is split over three days, so the Panthers and Roos won’t play again until May 5 against Raiders and Wangaratta respectively.
