K Rock Football | Emerging big man Cooper Leach will play his first senior match in 15 months when Grovedale hosts Lara at Burdoo Reserve.

Leach, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against the Cats in Round 3 last year, has spent the past seven weeks at Talent League level with the Geelong Falcons.

Tigers coach Jacob Spolding says the 19-year-old is keen to play the next couple of weeks at GFNL level while the Falcons have a couple of weeks off.

“He hasn’t had continuity with his football,” Spolding said. “He just wants to play a bit more footy.

Hopefully, that helps him out, and we can play a role in making sure when he does go back to the Falcons, that he’s ready to go.”

Spolding says he has no hesitation in throwing Leach into the first centre bounce despite Ryan Abbott and Joe McCarthy handling the ruck duties for Grovedale for most of this season.

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