Jordan Schroder will return to the line up after travelling to Perth as the AFL emergency last weekend and will be joined by AFL omissions Josh Walker and Jordan Murdoch.
VFL regulars Ben Raidme, Matthew Sully, Jack Hollmer, Daniel Measures and Dane McFarlane have also been included in the 26 man squad and will be looking to impress Matthew Knights and his coaching staff ahead of the much anticipated VFL finals series.
While the list of ‘outgoing’ players is headlined by the elevation of triple AFL premiership hero Paul Chapman to the AFL side for the blockbuster clash against the Sydney Swans on Saturday, the VFL Cats have a number of other significant outs.
Josh Cowan joined VFL premiership skipper Troy Selwood (shoulder) in the medical room this weekend after straining his hamstring at training this week.
Lachlan Howe and Ryley Hall, who are both eligible to play with the Cats as 23rd players in the VFL finals, have been squeezed out of the side and will return to their respective local clubs this weekend.
For only the second time this year the Cats will not have a 23rd player in the final line up.
The Gold are coached by former St Kilda champion Austinn Jones and have endured a tough first season in the competition as a stand-alone VFL side.
While light on for experienced players at VFL level, the Gold have been lead well by inspirational skipper Steven Stroobants and former Gold Coast Sun Alik Magin who have featured in the side’s best players more often than not.
They are a proud club and will be well supported by loud and loyal hometown supporter base who have stuck by the side through a tough year.
While the ladder positions of both sides might not suggest this match will be fiercely fought contest – that is exactly what the VFL Cats are expecting from a exciting young side who have nothing to lose.
The match kicks off at 6.30pm.
The Cats weekly live chat will not run for Friday night's game but will be back for the first final.
Bendigo Bank Cats – Round 19 Selected Side
B: Jed Bews, Joel Hamling, Josh Hunt
HB: Cameron Eardley, Mitch Brown, Taylor Hunt
C: Jordan Murdoch, Billie Smedts, Jackson Thurlow
HF: George Burbury, Josh Walker, Jesse Stringer
F: Ryan Bathie, Shane Kersten, Jackson Sheringham
R: Trent West, George Horlin-Smith, Jordan Schroder
I/C (from): Brad Hartman, Dominic Gleeson (c), Mark Corrigan, Matthew Sully, Jack Hollmer, Ben Raidme, Dane McFarlane, Daniel Measures
