The Standard | ALLANSFORD’S premiership ambitions have received a blow with a season-ending injury to Dave Pullen.
The small forward hurt his knee in the Cats’ big win over Kolora-Noorat last week and doctors have confirmed he will need a full reconstruction.
Pullen has been a key player in the Cats’ unbeaten start to the season, kicking 13 goals in the opening five rounds.
Allansford coach Josh Parkinson said Pullen would be sorely missed.
“He gives us something a lot of other teams don’t have — a small forward who kicks a lot of goals and also applies a lot of forward pressure,” Parkinson said.
“That role that he has played so well has given us a point of difference and is something we now need to try and fill.”
While the loss of Pullen is a big blow for the Cats, there was some good news at the selection table with three key inclusions.
Defender Jason Wilson returns from a hip injury and centre half-back Darren Kelly will resume after being unavailable last week.
Luke Irving is back in the team with the 15-year-old being rested last week after playing the first four games.
While there was plenty to consider at the Allansford selection table last night, it was an easier task for its opponent tomorrow.
Old Collegians go into the game with an unchanged line-up.
This comes as no surprise with the same 21 causing an upset last week when they defeated Dennington by 25 points.
Kolora-Noorat has injury concerns with a couple of veterans set to miss tomorrow’s clash with Nirranda.
Brothers Ben and Luke Kenna are both nursing hamstring strains and will miss the game against the Blues.
George O’Sullivan will also be on the sidelines with an arm injury but there is some good news with experienced utility Brad Hillman coming back into the team.
Down at Nirranda, Dylan Lees is the big addition to the team, returning from suspension for the clash with the Power.
Deakin University welcomes back two important players for its game with East Warrnambool.
Centre half-forward Jimmy Crawford and clever onballer Jake Zippel are back as the Sharks search for their first win of the season.
East Warrnambool is also looking to break its 2015 duck and has significantly bolstered its ranks for the big clash with the Sharks.
Running players Cale Jarvis, Jacob Taylor, Trent Clark and Coedie Carter are in, with the injured Thomas Hopkins and Billy Briggs among those out of the side.
Dennington makes the trip out to Panmure and will do so without Brenton O’Rourke who has an ankle injury.
Chris Vickery is back for his first game of the season after travelling overseas while the Bulldogs will be without star big man Tom White who is unavailable.
Down at Timboon the Demons will go into their game against South Rovers without Travis Brown who has an ankle injury but they regained the services of Jeff Rosolin.
South Rovers have lost Daniel Clifford with a hand injury but on the plus side, captain Julian Claridge is back in the team.
Merrivale has brought back Josh Sobey for its clash with Russells Creek at the Mack Oval while for the Kangaroos, Justin Harzmeyer and Paddy O’Brien come in.
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