The Norm Smith Medallist is not the only key inclusion for the Cats, with fellow AFL premiership player Allen Christensen, midfielder Jesse Stringer, small defender Jed Bews all returning from injury and named alongside AFL omissions George Horlin-Smith and Mitchell Brown in the 27 man squad.
The list of well known inclusions has upgraded the fixture from ‘VFL Match of the Round’ to a bonafide ‘blockbuster’ with the Cats sitting on top of the VFL ladder and the Melbourne aligned Casey Scorpions one spot behind in second.
A win will all but seal a top 2 position for the Bendigo Bank Cats and increase the chances of a home final at the Cattery.
Former Murray Bushranger Lachlan Howe will once again represent the VFL Cats as the 23rd player after an impressive performance in the 117 point victory over the Sandringham Zebras at Trevor Barker Oval last Sunday.
The list of outgoing players includes VFL life member Dominic Gleeson (general soreness), Queenscliff speedster Daniel Gibbs (omitted) and AFL elevation Trent West.
The Rohan Welsh coached Casey Scorpions are one of only two sides to beat Geelong this year. They defeated the all-conquering Cats by 13 points in Round 7, in what was described by many pundits as the ‘match of the season’.
The Scorpions have named a squad that includes an exciting combination of Melbourne listed players, experienced VFL campaigners and exciting young local talent. David Rodan, Sam Blease, James Strauss, James Magner, Rohan Bail, Joel MacDonald and 2012 Geelong VFL premiership player Tom Gillies have all be named to take on the Cats.
The player most people might be coming to see though is teen sensation Jesse Hogan who has taken the competition by storm in his first year.
With the AFL Cats playing on Friday night a huge crowd of ‘footy starved’ Cats fans are tipped to attend the match on Sunday and monitor the progress of the big name inclusions.
The gates will be open early with the Casey Scorpions taking on the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL Development League curtain raiser. The senior match kicks off at 2.00pm.
You can also participate in the Cats live VFL chat with VFL writer Nathan Kettle by clicking here.
Bendigo Bank Cats – Round 16 Selected Sides
B: Jed Bews, Jared Rivers, Cameron Eardley,
HB: Jordan Murdoch, Mitch Brown, Joshua Cowan
C: Jesse Stringer, Troy Selwood, Jackson Thurlow
HF: Brad Hartman, Joshua Walker, Paul Chapman
F: Ryan Bathie, Shane Kersten, Jordan Schroder
R: Andrew Banjanin, George Horlin-Smith, Allen Christensen
I/C: Ben Raidme, Matthew Sully, Jack Hollmer, Mitch Herbison, Jaxson Barham, Tom Maas, Mark Corrigan, Robert Condy, Lachlan Howe (23rd Player)
