A KOLORA-NOORAT premiership ruckman will give Terang Mortlake a boost for its showdown with reigning premier Koroit tomorrow.
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Dale Robinson gives the Bloods another tall option following the off-season departures of Sam Spencer, Justin Wallace and Jake Richardson.
Terang Mortlake coach Matthew Irving said the club was rapt to have a player of Robinson’s experience.
“He played reserves footy for us last year and we have worked on him the past three or four months to get him going again,” Irving said.
“He is not on the younger side so we’re hoping to get 10 to 12 games out of him for the year — we’ll pick and choose with him.
“He’s a really good tap ruckman, reads the ball well and is good in close.”
Robinson is one of four inclusions for the Bloods, with Bungaree premiership midfielder Jordan Payne back at his home club, Caramut onballer Lachie Barr and teenage utility Ben Finnerty also named.
Damian O’Connor (suspension), Joe Arundell (foot), James Reicha (hamstring) and Tyson Densley (unavailable) are forced omissions.
Koroit will be without two-time Maskell medallist Simon O’Keefe (ankle) and James North (corked calf), while premiership wingman Willem Drew will make his TAC Cup debut after he was called up for North Ballarat Rebels’ clash against Calder Cannons.
Rebels ruckman Nick Hausler, who made his senior debut for the Saints in round one, will also miss with representative commitments.
Cobden has made three changes as it strives to celebrate co-coach Paul Foster’s 200th senior game with a win against arch-rival Camperdown at Leura Oval.
The Bombers will blood two debutants — teenage pair Luke Pekin and Noah Mounsey.
Another under 18½-listed player, Dom Dare, earned a recall and will play forward.
Cobden co-coach Wayne Robertson said the Bombers were thrilled with the youth coming through their ranks.
“Both (Pekin and Mounsey) are pretty talented boys and they’re Cobden boys through and through and have come through our under 18’s program,” he said.
Promising defender Jack Hutt, one of the Bombers’ best in round one with two goals, and full-back Christian Koroneos will return to North Ballarat Rebels’ line-up following their bye last weekend.
Leigh Rosolin will also miss with a hamstring problem.
Camperdown midfielder Jake Dowell broke his thumb at work, with the Pies naming Eddie Lucas as his replacement.
“He had a fantastic pre-season; one of the biggest pre-seasons of all the boys and was put in the leadership group,” Pies coach Phil Carse said of Dowell.
“It’s a bit of a setback but at the same time he’s professional and will be back in no time.”
Portland bolstered its back line at the selection table, naming defensive duo Luke Van Heugten and Cam Mather along with teenage debutant Paddy Haylock among four changes for its clash with Hamilton Kangaroos at Melville Oval.
Forward Beau Bentley (unavailable) headlines the Tiger omissions.
Warrnambool named an unchanged line-up for its clash against rival South Warrnambool at Reid Oval on Sunday. The Roosters welcomed back creative forward Robbie Gregg after hip surgery in the off-season.
Port Fairy onballer Aaron Shields was added to the Seagulls’ line-up for their Sunday clash, while North Warrnambool Eagles brought in teenager Josh Corbett for the injured Hank Schlaghecke.