Grand final players Michael Newton, Ben Douthie and the Richards brothers – Nick and Joe – all missed the 97-point loss to Albury in the grand final re-match, along with Werribee big man Jade Cleeland.

Lachlan Hourigan will make his debut.

The Pigeons have just the one change, with classy Murray Bushranger Bailey Frauenfelder replacing defender Beau Seymour, who has an interstate wedding.

North Albury will tackle its away clash against Albury without two stars.

Co-coach Chris Schmidt and interleague forward Lachie Taylor-Nugent are injured. 

Taylor-Nugent had an operation on a badly broken nose he suffered against Wangaratta Rovers.

The undefeated Tigers are without Bushrangers’ Ben Kelly and Riley Bice, while Jim Grills is back from his polocrosse commitments overseas.

Meanwhile the development of one of the league’s most promising teenagers takes another step.

Corowa-Rutherglen’s Year 10 student Will Chandler will play the away game against Lavington.

Chandler became the youngest player in the club’s history last year, at 15, booting five goals against Wangaratta Rovers.

He backed it up with another five against Wodonga in round eight this year.

It’s been a superb effort, but the Panthers will be the first top five outfit he’s faced.

And the home team has named three profile players in captain Luke Garland, multiple Doug Strang medallist Adam Prior and silky defender Kris Holman.

Best and fairest Marty Brennan will miss the game as he battles a quad injury.

Wodonga Raiders have brought two Bushrangers in for the home match against Wodonga.

The impressive Dylan Clarke and Nick Murray return, while Jackson Kelly has been dropped.

And Myrtleford has recalled Lachie Dale, Brady Sharp and Elijah Wales for the away game to Rovers.

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