Northern Bullants v GCFC
Visy Park, Melbourne, 1.00pm Saturday 5 June 2010
With Karmichael Hunt’s arrival and first training session now out of the way, GCFC will now redouble its focus for an important away clash against Carlton-aligned Northern Bullants at Visy Park on Saturday.
This week’s squad includes several changes with Rex Liddy, Roland Ah Chee and David Swallow taking well earned rests, Jack Hutchins missing with a low grade hamstring injury and Charlie Dixon suspended for a week having been found guilty of front on contact during last week’s game.
Joey Daye, Maverick Weller and Trent McKenzie return to the starting side. Damien Steven will line up for his first VFL game for GCFC having been a regular in last year’s TAC Cup line up.
The full team is:
B: Mitch HARLEY Michael GUGLIOTTA Michael COAD
HB: Taylor HINE Joey DAYE Matthew SHAW
C: Trent McKENZIE Marc LOCK (c) Piers FLANAGAN
HF: Luke RUSSELL Nathan ABLETT Maverick WELLER
F: Brandon MATERA Lewis MOSS Alik MAGIN
R: Zac SMITH Daniel HARRIS Danny STANLEY
INT: Rory THOMPSON Hayden JOLLY Sam ILES Brad REES
Damian STEVEN (debut)
In: STEVEN, DAYE, McKENZIE, WELLER, MAGIN
Out: AH CHEE (quadricep), HUTCHINS (hamstring), DIXON (suspended), SWALLOW, LIDDY (both rested).
Senior Coach Guy McKenna said his squad had successfully negotiated the intense week of media scrutiny accompanying the arrival of his highest profile recruit, Karmichael Hunt.
“The boys knew [Hunt] was on his way, so it hasn’t changed our focus. Everything else has stayed the same. We’ve still had a game to prepare for,” he said.
McKenna said last week’s game against Collingwood on a heavy track had left a few of his players leg weary.
“It was hard going last week and a few of the boys pulled up a bit sore but we expect everyone to be fine by Saturday. That’s why we took it fairly easy today at training. We’d rather keep their legs fresh for the weekend.”
He said the Blues-aligned Bullants represent another tough challenge.
“I see they’ve got Brad Fisher back from knee injury at centre half forward. He’s a guy I really rate as a footballer, so that’ll present a great challenge for [backmen] Michael Gugliotta or Michael Coad. They’re another aligned side and they’re travelling well. They’ll have the usual complement of AFL listed players there. And that presents another significant opportunity to measure up our guys against really good players.”
• Northern Bullants have won three games so far this year and sit inside the eight on percentage.
• A strange start to the season sees the bottom five VFL sides within a single win of each other on the ladder. GCFC sits in tenth spot and within striking distance of the eight despite only securing a draw and a single win from seven games.
• Centre half forward Charlie Dixon has claimed the dubious honour of being GCFC’s first suspended VFL player – he will sit this week out after receiving a one match suspension for front on at a tribunal hearing last night.
• Brisbane-raised Damien Steven played with some success mostly as a midfielder in GCFC’s TAC Cup side last year. He cut his footballing teeth at Alexandra Hills, represented South Eastern Bushrangers at the Queensland Under 18 State Championships, and has played senior AFLQ football for Mount Gravatt Vultures.
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