NIRRANDA is set to strengthen its already star-studded side with the inclusion of two premiership players for Sunday’s match against Merrivale.
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Two of the Blues’ 2016 premiership players, Mitch Couch (burns) and John Paulin, return to a side which is firing on all cylinders after two consecutive 90-point victories to start the season.
Nirranda co-coach Shane Threlfall said the two key Blues have been training consistently over the past few weeks and are set to go.
“They are right to go for their first games of the year,” he told The Standard. “It's good to have two premiership players back into our side.”
Threlfall said Couch, who suffered burns in a workplace accident before the season began, needed time to recover from his injuries and be 100 percent ready to take the field.
“We are pretty fortunate that it wasn't as bad as it could have been, he just needed some time to make sure it healed properly before he played,” the Blues mentor said.
“He is really excited to be back, and the good thing about his injury is that he has been able to train really well right through, he just had to avoid contact and he is good to go.”
Making way for the premiership duo is Luke Irving and Brady Kew, with Threlfall saying the pair was unlucky to be dropped after strong starts to the season.
The reigning premier, Kolora-Noorat, also welcomes back three premiership players in full-forward Ben Fraser, ruckman Lachlan MacKay and backman Steven O’Connor.
Power coach Danny Finn said he was pleased to have the trio back into bolster his side ahead of Saturday’s grand final rematch against Old Collegians.
“It's good to have some experience back,” he said. “Some of these guys who are unlucky to miss out in Jake (O’Flynn) and Simon (Tolland) have had a great start to the year and have performed at a high level, but unfortunately that's footy and we are rapt to have some good leaders back in our side.”
Unlucky to also miss out is Corey McDonald who is unavailable this weekend, with O’Flynn and Tolland playing in the reserves this weekend.
Old Collegians also welcome back some experienced heads, with playing-coach Josh Reichman, Nathan Forth and Josh Stapleton returning to the Warriors side.
Allansford welcomes back two vital players in Ben McLean and Jeremy Ellis, along with Blair Kearney and Ben Heard returning to the Cats side for their match against the bottom-placed East Warrnambool.
First-year coach Ben Price said that Ellis brings lethal drive off half back and McLean was a smart midfielder with strong leadership skills.