FRANKSTON has suffered a huge blow with prolific midfielder Nathan Freeman ruled out of its historic 1000th VFL game against Footscray at Skybus Stadium on Friday night.
The Dolphins star has averaged 41 disposals a match across the first five games, but will miss the club’s biggest game since it returned to the VFL from a year in purgatory in 2018.
In a further hit to their hopes of upsetting the unbeaten Bulldogs, talented forward Bailey Lambert will miss a second straight game after being ruled out of last week’s loss to Essendon.
Frankston has made seven changes to the team that lost to the Bombers, with ruckmen Jimmy Rendell and Jeremy Goddard also ruled out alongside midfielder Nathan Scagliarini and defender Max Williams, while skipper Josh Newman returns and Harry Loughnan and Bill McCormack will debut.
The Bulldogs have also made seven changes from the team that beat Carlton in round four, with Rhylee West, Ryan Gardner, Buku Khamis and Will Hayes among the ins, but skipper Lachie Sullivan, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Cody Weightman and Roarke Smith all out.
Southport has named an unchanged team for its Coast Clash with Gold Coast at Fankhauser Reserve – the club’s first home night game for premiership points.
The Suns have lost Zac Smith and Alex Sexton to the AFL, but Jack Hombsch and Ben Ainsworth are among the inclusions.
SOUTHPORT v GOLD COAST
Friday, May 21, 7pm @ Fankhauser Reserve
SOUTHPORT
B: R. Clark, S. Tape, M. Gahan
HB: T. Fields, J. Williams, B. Murdoch
C: B. Gowers, K. Boakye, J. Joyce
HF: M. Johnson, C. Nutting, M. Manteit
F: A. Boston, F. Thurlow, L. Webb
R: B. Crossley, J. Dawson, M. Selsby
Inter: R. King, T. Miller, B. Scheer, M. Willis
Emerg: D. Charlesworth, N. Colenso, R. Gilmore, J. Travaglini
No change
GOLD COAST
B: J. Harbrow, J. Hombsch, J. McLennan
HB: B. Fiorini, A. Fyfe, R. Nicholls
C: J. Murdoch, W. Brodie, J. Sharp
HF: M. Pescud, J. Jeffrey, A. Rayner
F: J. Townsend, R. Pickering, R. Winter
R: P. Murtagh, B. Ainsworth, A. Davies
Inter: B. Reeves, M. Riddle, J. Smith, J. Willis
Emerg: J. Hamann, T. Hofert, J. Semmler, S. Walsh
In: Ainsworth, Hombsch, Pickering, Rayner, Willis, Winter
Out: J. Johnston, L. McDonald, H. Oea, A. Sexton, Z. Smith
Prediction: Southport by 22
FRANKSTON v FOOTSCRAY
Friday, May 21, 7.30pm @ Skybus Stadium (RPPFM 98.7, 7pm)
FRANKSTON
B: W. Arthurson, L. Hiscock, J. Lloyd
HB: M. Cox, T. Barlow, A. Styles
C: W. Fordham, S. Fletcher, T. Small
HF: A. Krakauer, J. Begley, B. McLaughlin
F: B. O'Leary, R. D'Arcy, K. Owens
R: T. Young, A. Brolic, J. Newman
Inter: C. Jones, H. Loughnan, B. McCormack, J. Mentha
Emerg: J. Crocker, J. Stern, J. Voss
In: D'Arcy, Loughnan, Lloyd, McCormack, Newman, Small, Young
Out: N. Freeman, J. Goddard, B. O'Hanlon, J. Rendell, C. Riley, N. Scagliarini, M. Williams (all injured)
FOOTSCRAY
B: D. Orgill, R. Gardner, L. Young
HB: L. Butler, B. Khamis, N. Hamad
C: W. Hayes, M. Wallis, R. West
HF: B. Cavarra, D. Bedendo, J. Gilbee
F: J. Boyd, J. Schache, T. Short
R: J. Glass-McCasker, C. Cormack, R. Garcia
Inter: E. Macpherson, R. McComb, E. Nichols, C. Preston
Emerg: L. Dawson, A. Hodge, C. Raak, B. Van de Heuvel
In: Gardner, Gilbee, Hamad, Hayes, Khamis, Preston, West
Out: J. Kellett, B. Van de Heuvel, R. Smith, L. Sullivan, J. Ugle-Hagan, C. Weightman, R. William
Prediction: Footscray by 35
Brendan Rhodes’ winners: Last Week: 6. Season: 35.
