WERRIBEE will be without captain Nick Coughlan and mobile forward Nick Hayes due to injury for its Smithy’s VFL Anzac Day blockbuster against Williamstown at DSV Stadium on Thursday.
Hayes was knocked out and taken to hospital after a sickening accidental head clash with GWS Giants youngster Isaac Hughes during the Tigers’ surprise home loss last Saturday.
Coughlan, who makes up half of the best key defensive pairing in the league, has been ruled out indefinitely with a hamstring injury, completing a double blow that will tell us just how much depth the grand finalists have on their list.
The news is better at the Seagulls as they also look to bounce back from a thrashing at the hands of a red-hot Footscray last Saturday.
While the home team loses star defensive recruit Aidan Bonar to a minor hamstring issue, it has been able to recall Ryley Stoddart to slot into that role.
Experienced wingmen Darby Henderson and Jack McHale have worked their way back for their first appearances of the season to boost the running power.
Williamstown will have extra motivation to produce its best after being soundly walloped by 93 points in the corresponding game last year, while that result means Werribee will be heading to one of the most daunting places for an away team to play without any fears of what it might bring.
WILLIAMSTOWN vs WERRIBEE
Thursday 25 April, 1:05pm, DSV Stadium
Head-to-Head: Williamstown 48-32; At DSV Stadium: Williamstown 26-9; Streak: Werribee 2; Last Time: Werribee 24.10 154 def Williamstown 9.7 61 (April 23, 2023, Avalon Airport Oval)
WILLIAMSTOWN
B: R. Stoddart (15), F. O'Dwyer (17), J. Greiser (18)
HB: H. Minton-Connell (16), L. Parks (22), C. Polson (5)
C: M. Philpot (19), W. Fordham (7), N. Gadsby (13)
HF: J. Toner (14), C. Ellison (1), B. Coleman (27)
F: C. Rich (3), J. Petric (24), J. Brown (28)
R: T. Downie (11), R. Collier-Dawkins (9), M. Cox (4)
INT: J. McHale (32), T. Triffett (23), D. Henderson (36), N. Ebinger (26), J. Fitzgerald (8)
EMG: L. Conway (34), A. Deng (30), J. Browne (12), Z. Pritchard (44), N. Colenso (35), B. Andrews (29)
IN: D. Henderson, J. McHale, R. Stoddart
OUT: A. Bonar (hamstring), J. Browne, L. Conway
WERRIBEE
B: J. Clark (27), N. Cooper (18), J. Pavlidis (34)
HB: L. Pinnuck (9), W. Lual (12), R. Bice (26)
C: C. Preston (11), D. Brew (29), K. Declase (3)
HF: H. Grintell (16), S. Paea (32), B. Malual (22)
F: J. Dahlhaus (24), H. Garoni (1), A. Hicks (21)
R: S. Conway (50), J. Henderson (8), D. Andrews (2)
INT: A. Johnson (17), E. Ajang (39), C. Whyte (4), J. Riding (33), M. Keast (15)
EMG: K. Annand (10), S. Azzi (6), M. Selsby (14), J. Smith (35), C. Thar (45)
IN: W. Lual, C. Whyte
OUT: N. Coughlan (hamstring), N. Hayes (concussion)
UMPIRES
FIELD: 14.Luke Porter, 23.Sam Ferguson, 34.Joel Clamp. BOUNDARY: Kaitlin Barr, Lachlan Menara, Zach Mousaco, Ben Rofe. GOAL: Jack Stammers, Adam Steger.
