The Courier | INJURY has caused a shake-up of the Central Highlands Football League team that will head to Horsham for the AFL Victoria Country Championships on Saturday.
With Springbank defender Tim Malone already ruled out last week because of a hamstring issue, there have been four more casualties from the original side that will be captained by Buninyong joint-coach Jarrod Morgan.
Beaufort defender Damien Day, Daylesford onballer Michael Cummings, Bombers forward Jarrod Rodgers and Bungaree midfielder Chris O’Keefe have all pulled out of the game against the Horsham District Football League.
Day has a hamstring problem, Cummings a broken collar bone, Rodgers sore ribs and O’Keefe is struggling with a quadricep strain.
Matt Tyler had already been secured to replace his teammate Malone in the side and is now joined by Gordon midfielder/forward Chris McGuigan, Bungaree big man Shaun Finlayson, Waubra utility Tom Nijam and Gordon tall Mark Gunnell as replacements for the injured brigade. Waubra onballer Tim Mullane is the other addition to the 23-man team, which will have a five-player interchange bench.
RSM Bird Cameron Central Highlands coach Greg Middleton said he felt the final line-up was potentially more balanced than the one he originally selected.
Middleton said the players he had added to the side were in good form.
“I’m very, very happy with the balance that we have in the side,” he said.
“I’m really confident with the players that we are going to take up to Horsham.
“I’m not a big fan of saying ‘good on paper’ – it really doesn’t mean much – but I guess it is probably one of the strongest sides we have put on paper. I think if they play up to their ability, then they are going to be very hard to beat.”
Morgan steps up for his first role as captain of the Central Highlands, taking over from Day, who led the Highlanders to a big victory over Loddon Valley at Bungaree last year.
THE TEAM
Mitch Bruns (Bungaree), David Benson (Bungaree), Chris McGuigan (Gordon), Tim Mullane (Waubra), Shaun Finlayson (Bungaree), Luke Gunnell (Gordon), Jason Linke (Bungaree), Paul McMahon (Springbank), Joel Maher (Springbank), Matthew Tyler (Springbank), Jarrod Morgan (Buninyong), Luke Mirtschin (Bungaree), Tye Murphy (Gordon), Mick Nolan (Gordon), Tom Nijam (Waubra), Brenton Powell (Learmonth), Mark Gunnell (Gordon), Michael Searl (Springbank), Justin Simpson (Springbank),
Daniel Wehrung (Newlyn), Nicholas Weightman (Bungaree), Jacob Werts (Learmonth), Will Young (Newlyn).
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