Sport
30 August, 2024
WFNL finals teams: key players return to action as season heats up
Changes are at a minimum for the first week of finals.
WFNL
Football
The four WFNL clubs competing in the first week of finals have named their senior football teams.
Ararat will make at least one change for its qualifying final against the Stawell Warriors at Davis Park.
The Rats have named 20 players, with Pat Toner the only addition.
Corey Taylor and Ryan Bates will make way.
The Warriors have bolstered its squad with three key additions.
James Sullivan returns from soreness, which has kept him out of the last two matches.
Key defender Mitchel Taylor and Marlon Motlop are back from the Northern Territory.
Nhill has named 22 players for its return to the finals against Horsham at Stawell's Central Park.
Matt Kennedy will return to Jake McQueen's side for the first time since round 16.
Key forward, Dylan Ridding will have to prove his fitness after he sustained an ankle injury in the round 17 draw with Ararat.
Ruck Caleb Zanker has been named on an extended bench.
Horsham welcomes back Hugo Papst and Ryan Kemp for the elimination final.
The dynamic duo replaces Sam Bigham and Jackson Hoffmann.
Ararat
In: Pat Toner.
Out: Corey Taylor, Ryan Bates.
Lineup: Henry Shea, Brody Griffin, Alan Batchelor, Tom Williamson, Matt Spalding, Ben Taylor, James Jennings, Baydn Cosgriff, Sam Cronin, Izaiyah Turner, Pat Toner, Tom Mills, Jack Ganley, Sonny Kettle, Alex Van Opstal, Jacob Bates, Adam Haslett, Ethan Summers, Flynn Toner, Luke Spalding,
Horsham Demons
In: Hugo Papst, Ryan Kemp.
Out: Sam Bigham, Jackson Hoffman.
Lineup: Corey Williams, Tyler Blake, Hugo Papst, Ryan Kemp, Jasper Gunn, Brody Pope, Lachlan Hobbs, Billy Carberry, Rhys Barber, Riley Williams, Jack Dalziel, Sam Janetzki, Jordan Motton, Ben Lakin, Zak Smith, Ben Janetzki, Matthew Long, Jeremy Kemp, Harvey Gunn, Archie Elliott, Cullen Williams.
Nhill
In: Matt Kennedy, Dylan Ridding.
Out: Caleb Zanker.
Lineup: Daniel Batson, Drew Schneider, Jarryd Dahlenburg, Mitch Dahlenburg, Liam Albrecht, Xavier Bone, Jake McQueen, Jordan Zeitz, Toby Marshall, Jake Harrap, Matt Kennedy, Wallace Wheaton, Angus Wheaton, Dylan Ridding, Peter Politis, Darcy Honeyman, Glen Saniong, Patrick Purcell, Connor Jones, Joshua Lees, Deek Roberts, Nathan Alexander.
Stawell
In: James Sullivan, Marlon Motlop, Mitchel Taylor.
Out: Kyan Mellor, Jarrod Illig, Tommy Williams.
Lineup: Jackson Dark, Ash Driscoll, Tom Eckel, Cody Driscoll, James Sullivan, Sean Mantell, Sam Jenkinson, Josh Fowkes, Jacob Welsh, Josh Linton, Jakob Salmi, Aiden Graveson, Zac Marrow, Sam Williams, Mitch Thorp, Marlon Motlop, James Sclanders, Jack Walker, Ethan Marrow, Mitchel Taylor, Owen Summers.