KOROIT coach Chris McLaren says Ben Dobson will play a variety of roles after being picked for his first game of the 2021 Hampden league season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The multiple premiership-winning player is one of three inclusions for the Saints' round six clash against Camperdown at Victoria Park on Saturday.
Ruckman Jeremy Hausler and Dylan McCutcheon also return with Tim McPherson (concussion), Thomas Baulch (NAB League) and Matt Hausler (omitted) making way.
McLaren said the Saints were thrilled to bring Dobson back into the fold.
"Ben has probably trained flat out for six or more weeks now, he was the runner for a few weeks before the bye," he said.
"He had big cricket commitments (with Wesley-CBC) being a coach in A grade cricket and a young family and wasn't able to get here in the pre-season much.
"We decided it was best off for a late start. Have a spell, get mentally refreshed."
Listen to this week's The Main Break podcast with Portland captain Daniel Jackson:
McLaren said Dobson's versatility would help a Saints' team rebounding from its first loss of the season.
"Clearly he is one of the best players in the comp so we're rapt to have him back. Like a couple of other boys (in our team) there will be a slight change of role for Ben at times this year," he said.
"He'll go through the ball, play back a bit and we're pretty keen to use him as a forward if we get the opportunity as well."
Camperdown has brought in a debutant to play Koroit, naming under 18 captain Ned Payne. Magpies coach Neville Swayn said Payne deserved his chance.
"He's been knocking on the door and been a standout all year (in the juniors)," he said. "He has a good-sized body and we think he can play a role for us. He'll play forward but he can go onball if needed."
Payne joins Toby Kent in the Pies' line up which will be without Hamish Sinnott (NAB League) and Jesse Gallichan (ankle).
South Warrnambool named two debutants among its four changes.
Teenagers Myles McCluggage and Will White will play their first games when the Roosters travel to Melville Oval to play Hamilton Kangaroos.
Another teenager, second-gamer George Stevens, comes in alongside Jed Henderson.
Jock Blair and Wil Pomorin have been managed while Fraser Marris and Archie Stevens return to the NAB League.
South Warrnambool coach Mat Battistello said he was rapt to bring in McCluggage and White.
"Myles will play on a wing or at half-back, he's just a nice user of the football," he said.
"Will is a bit of an x-factor. He's got great footy IQ and good goal sense.
"He'll roll through a forward-mid rotation. It is going to be exciting."
Harry Lee was named after being under an injury cloud while Ricky Henderson will play.
"He (Ricky) was due to have a rest in terms of management but he will play," Battistello said.
North Warrnambool Eagles have included a debutant among five forced changes for their match against Port Fairy at Gardens Oval.
First-gamer Jack Burke joins fellow teenagers Austin Sinclair, Judah Greene, Ned Timms and Baillie Keast in the side.
"He'll play forward. He's good in one-on-one contests and is a good kick for goal," Eagles coach Adam Dowie said.
"He's pretty hard (at the contest) too."
The Eagles have lost the emerging Bailey Jenkinson to a shoulder injury for roughly 10 weeks and experienced duo Dylan Parish and Tom Batten for three to four weeks with hamstring injuries.
Teenagers Jett Bermingham and Ben Kellett return to the NAB League.
Port Fairy welcomes back Kurt Smith (groin/back) for his first game since round one and also added James Duncan to its team.
Veteran James Imbi, who is still playing seniors aged 37, is out with general soreness while Darcy Smith (groin) is injured.
Seagulls coach Winis Imbi said defender Matt Sully was "still developing his fitness" as he eyes a return.
"He's going to be a while off but we're not putting any pressure on him," he said.
"Obviously we'd all like him to be out there - he's one of our captains - but at the same time we're thinking long term for him.
"A fit and firing Matt Sully will be an asset when he's ready."
Cobden brought in four experienced players for its twilight clash against Portland at Hanlon Park.
Thomas Spokes, Jack McGlade, Sam Thow and Mark Marriott return in place of Luke Hickey, Harrison Herschell, Louis Darcy and James McLeod.
"They are all quality players (the inclusions) and they're going to help our side immensely but we can't rely on that so we're going to bring a more consistent effort across the game," Bombers coach Adam Courtney said.
Warrnambool will go in unchanged for the first time this season when it hosts Terang Mortlake at Deakin University.
ROUND SIX TEAMS:
SENIORS
HAMILTON KANGAROOS v SOUTH WARRNAMBOOL
Hamilton Kangaroos
B: Christopher Quinn, Taine Morris, Ryan Sigley
HB: Matt Newell, Cameron Whyte, Thomas Scott
C: Brady Hicks, Rory Gill, Sam Chatfield
HF: Duncan Rentsch, Magnus Howells, Cameron Pither
F: Luke Uebergang, Darcy Russell, Hugh Douglas
R: Levi Dare, Jack English, Hamish Waldron
Int: Charles Murrie, Kobi Walter, Angus Noske
Emg: James Whyte, Bailey Mason, Luke Barnes, David Arnold
In: Angus Noske
Out: Lachlan Waddell
South Warrnambool
B: Nick Thompson, Jed Henderson, Jett Herrmann
HB: Harrison Lee, George Stevens, Patrick Anderson
C: Sam Thompson, Liam Mullen, Tait Niddrie
HF: Heath Brennan, Isaac Thomas, Benjamin Rantall
F: Samuel Kelly, Shannon Beks, Liam Youl
R: Oliver Bridgewater, Joshua Saunders, Brayden Beks
Int: Myles McCluggage, Corey Gallichan, Will White
In: George Stevens, Myles McCluggage, Will White, Jed Henderson
Out: Jock Blair, Archie Stevens, Fraser Marris, Wil Pomorin
WARRNAMBOOL v TERANG MORTLAKE
Warrnambool
B: Wil Fleming, James Chittick, Thomas Ludeman
HB: Brad Bull, Sam Cowling, Angus Lowe
C: Benedict Howard, Darcy Graham, Jye Turland
HF: Joel Reinheimer, Rob Bright, Josh Irving
F: Jackson Bell, Jed Turland, Luke Cody
R: Daniel Weymouth, Mitchell Bidmade, Austin Steere
Int: Cooper Hoffmann, Liam Bidmade, Noah Turland
Terang Mortlake
B: Joel Crawley, Christopher Baxter, Samuel Crawley
HB: Matthew Baxter, Ryan O'Connor, Gus Bourke
C: Brodhi Carracher, Joseph Arundell, Matthew Arundell
HF: Jimmy Moloney, Lachlan Wareham, Daniel Kenna
F: Will Tickner, William Kain, Harvey Roberts
R: Darcy Hobbs, Mitchell Carlin, Jarryd Hay
Int: Nathan Murphy, Dylan Jones, Kane Johnstone, Jack Lehmann
In: Kane Johnstone
PORT FAIRY v NORTH WARRNAMBOOL
Port Fairy
B: Aaron Williams, Colin Harwood, Murray Staude
HB: Josh Dwyer, Jake Hamilton, George Swarbrick
C: Hamish Gleeson, Isaac Martin, Kurt Smith
HF: Tyler Hetherington, Jim Conlan, Aaron McInnes
F: BJ Dalton, Lochie Gunning, James Duncan
R: , Shane Savage, Andrew McMeel
Int: Riley Riordan, Jack Carter, Jack Hearn
In: Kurt Smith, James Duncan
Out: James Imbi, Darcy Smith
North Warrnambool
B: Tom James, Joseph McKinnon, Baillie Keast
HB: Luke Wines, Callum Grundy, Austin Sinclair
C: Harry Keast, Jye O'Brien, Tom Keast
HF: Jarryd Lewis, Adam Wines, Dion Johnstone
F: Jackson Grundy, Benjamin Mugavin, Felix Jones
R: Jordan Dillon, Matthew Wines, Sam James
Int: Judah Greene, Ned Timms, Jack Burke
In: Ned Timms, Baillie Keast, Jack Burke, Judah Greene, Austin Sinclair
Out: Thomas Batten, Dylan Parish, Ben Kellett, Jett Bermingham, Bailey Jenkinson
KOROIT v CAMPERDOWN
Koroit
B: Liam Hoy, Benjamin Dobson, Frazer Robb
HB: Dylan McCutcheon, Tim Martin, William Couch
C: Sam Dobson, Jayden Watson, Jack O'Sullivan
HF: Clem Nagorcka, Alex Pulling, Timothy McIntyre
F: Dallas Mooney, Jarrod Korewha, Liam M O'Sullivan
R: Jeremy Hausler, Todd White, Brett Harrington
Int: Will Petersen, Mac Petersen, Paddy O'Sullivan
In: Benjamin Dobson, Dylan McCutcheon, Jeremy Hausler
Out: Matt Hausler, Thomas Baulch, Timothy McPherson
Camperdown
B: Luke O'Neil, Billy Arnold, Brendan Richardson
HB: Jason Robinson, Jack Williams, Angus Gordon
C: Judah Dundon, Sidney Bradshaw, Matthew Field
HF: Bayley Thompson, Riley Arnold, Zachariah Sinnott
F: Fraser Lucas, Samuel Gordon, Brayden Draffin
R: William Rowbottom, Cameron Spence, Charlie Lucas
Int: Josh Place, Toby Kent, Isaac Stephens
In: Ned Payne, Toby Kent
Out: Hamish Sinnott, Jesse Gallichan
PORTLAND v COBDEN
Portland
B: Connor Peters, Harrison Hampshire, Harrison Kerr
HB: Josh Jenner, Josh Edwards, Zac Edwards
C: Jason Walker, Toby Jennings, Nathan Valori
HF: Tex Mitchell, Sam Hampshire, Thomas Sharp
F: Kyle Richardson, Jackson Dunlop, Daniel Falcone
R: Ben Malcolm, Jake Edwards, Daniel Jackson
Int: Rhys Egan, Harry McIntyre
In: Zac Edwards
Out: David Denboer, Jamieson Ballantyne
Cobden
B: Samuel Darcy, Jack McGlade, Zac Green
HB: Ricky Sullivan, Ben Berry, Sam Thow
C: Noah Mounsey, Jack Hutt, Jesse Williamson
HF: Thomas Spokes, Christian Koroneos, Paul Pekin
F: Joshua Woods, Matthew Clarke, Louis Cahill
R: Mark Marriott, Patrick Smith, Grady Rooke
Int: Ryleigh McVilly, Joshua Hickey, Matthew Kemp
Emg: Louis Darcy
In: Jack McGlade, Sam Thow, Thomas Spokes, Mark Marriott
Out: Harrison Herschell, Luke Hickey, James McLeod
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content
- Bookmark https://www.standard.net.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters.
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
- Tap here to open our Google News page.
- Join our Courts and Crime Facebook group and our dedicated Sport Facebook group