The Blackwood Football Club has made a raft of changes ahead of its Round 17 clash with the Mt Barker Football Club at KX Pilates Blackwood Oval.
The fifth placed Woods host the third placed Barkeroos in a much-anticipated match up in the last home game of the 2022 season for the Woods. The Woods will be looking to continue their solid home record having won six of eight matches played at the venue in 2022.
In selection news, the Woods have made six changes to the selected squad for the match. Headlining the changes is the captain Ryan Dijksman who returns having missed last weekend. Also selected in the line up is tall forward Nathan Laity, speedsters Kai Tucker and Mark Reynolds and defensive duo Sam Matters and Matt Waldron.
Speaking at selections on Thursday evening, coach Scott Prebble stated that the team was looking forward to playing in front of a large, vocal home crowd this weekend. “We have had a good week on the track and are ready to go against the Roos this weekend. We aim to play a solid four quarter performance and represent the guernsey with pride in front of our fans and supporters.”
The match will also feature two milestones with Vice Captain Nathan Dunn playing his 100th match in the Red and Green while Ryan McMurtrie dons the guernsey for the 50th occasion.
In the B Grade, Daniel Lowe has made a total of eight changes to the squad with Caleb Dearman, Jonathan Grimes, Nathan Houston, Luke Lewis, Oskar Milsom, Cody Padroth, Mat Tee and Ben Wender named in the side for the crunch clash.
In a mini-final, the Woods come up against the Barkeroos who are currently sitting in fifth place one games clear of the sixth placed Woods. In the previous match up between the sides back in Round 8, the Woods came away with the chocolates by 25 points with Sam Tonkin booting three majors and Mat Tee being named best player.
For the C Grade, in a season first for the Men’s teams, Adam Pope has named an unchanged line up from the team which won last weekend’s semi-final clash. The team faces the Nairne Bremer Rams in their ninth Grand Final in the past 13 seasons and will look to continue their good record having won six premierships across this period.
The match will also be highlight for Jack Murphy who plays his 50th match in red and green.
Speaking at selection, coach Adam Pope said he was looking forward to the weekend. “It has been a hard season with so many changes each week, but these boys have committed and are deserving of a crack at the premiership.”
“We hope to see a large crowd of red and green support on the weekend to cheer us onwards to victory.”
For the Senior Colts, Daryl Sowerby has named a strong squad for their clash against the Barkeroos in the 2022 Senior Colts Courier Cup game. In the last match up between the sides in Round 8, the Woods came away with the chocolates securing a 10 point victory at Summit Park. Nick Evans was the star up front booting four majors while Alex Markham was named best player.
The Mini Colts also find themselves playing for the 2022 Courier Cup against the Barkeroos. Both teams currently sitting on 15 wins for the season with Blackwood in first position on the ladder by percentage (current percentage is 946.2). Back in Round 8, the Woods secured a five point victory at Summit Park with competition leading goal kicker Mitchell Daniell booting two majors and Joshua Bell being named best player. The match up kicks off a big day at KX Pilates Blackwood Oval from 8.45am.
Check out the Men’s and Boys squads for Round 17 courtesy of match day sponsor Harris Real Estate
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