HAMILTON Kangaroos will be without skilful midfielder Tim Meulendyks but have regained creative forward Brendan Huf for their must-win game against Camperdown at Leura Oval tomorrow.
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Meulendyks injured his shoulder in the Kangaroos’ thumping win over South Warrnambool last weekend.
Huf, who missed the past two games with an Achilles problem, was one of three inclusions for the Kangaroos.
North Ballarat Rebels’ midfielder-forward Eric Guthrie comes in for his second game due to the TAC Cup bye and the versatile Lachlan Crawford was also named.
Camperdown made one change, bringing in teenager Eddie Lucas for the injured David Young (shoulder).
Pies coach Dan Casey, who was cleared to play after facing the tribunal on a striking charge on Wednesday night, said Lucas was a promising player.
“He’s had a really good year and he’s a really good user of the footy,” Casey said. “He’ll get a job on (Kane) Uebergang or (Brad) Thomas.”
Warrnambool added key defender Rob Bright (hamstring tightness) and attacking defender-cum-wingman Tom Schnerring (North Ballarat Rebels) for its clash against Portland at Reid Oval.
Jye Turland and Corey Gallichan were omitted.
Blues coach Scott Carter said veteran midfielder Josh Walters needed another week to overcome a minor knee problem.
“He’s a chance to return next week,” he said.
“But if he’s not 100 per cent he won’t play until the next week.”
Portland brought in Aidan Cancian for his second game, replacing ruckman Marcus Amor who was omitted.
Tigers coach Jake Myles said Cancian deserved another chance at senior level.
“He played against Camperdown and was in our best and was terribly unlucky last week,” he said.
“He’ll play half-back and will play on one of their small forwards.”
Koroit brought in James Gow, who played TAC Cup last weekend, and Kurt Howard for its road trip to Cobden.
They replace fellow teenagers Jarrod Korewha and Tom Lynch.
Cobden made three changes, with assistant coach Sam Harkin, Ben Robertson and Chris Mahony in for Bart Phillips, Damon Delaney and Brent Goonan.
It’s taken 16 rounds but North Warrnambool Eagles will take an unchanged line-up in for the first time this season.
The Eagles, fresh from a road trip win over fellow finals hopeful Portland, take on Port Fairy at Bushfield Recreation Reserve.
Eagles coach Bernard Moloney said midfielder Nathan Murphy, who has missed a chunk of the season with a finger injury, would play a third straight game in the reserves as he regained match fitness.
“Nathan is certainly close and put his hand up for selection but with a winning team and everyone up and about we go in unchanged,” Moloney said.
Port Fairy added hard nuts Adam Farley (ankle) and Michael Lambevski (illness) to its squad for omitted duo Eddie Purvis and Joshua Reeves.
Suspended key forward Chris Bant heads three Terang Mortlake changes for its battle against South Warrnambool.
Bant, who will miss two games for unbecoming conduct, joins Danny Craven (ankle) and Tom Arundell (omitted) on the sidelines.
Geelong Falcons forward Josh Carlin will make his senior debut for the Bloods, while midfielder Tom McKenzie (hamstring tightness) and veteran swingman Michael Sargeant also come in.
South Warrnambool made one change to the side which conceded 12 goals in the final quarter against Hamilton Kangaroos last weekend, bringing in Olle Lee for Harry Ponting.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au