Round 20 Football Department Update

THE SENIOR SQUAD UPDATE

by Warren Parker, EPFC Football Manager

It was a difficult week at the club last week for a number of reasons with the biggest being Jeremy Barnard moving on as Head Coach after coming to a mutual agreement with the Club regarding his future. Barney addressed the group on Monday pre-training before handing the reigns over to Ross McQueen as interim coach for the remainder of the season.

The players and staff responded as well as they could and I think that showed in a spirited performance against South Fremantle. Although we did not get the job done, we played some very good football and pushed South Fremantle right up until the final minutes before Dylan Main took a few big marks and the Bulldogs pushed the margin to 9pts. Scott Jones was fantastic across the day in the Ruck while Sam Van Diemen (3) and Thomas Graham (2) were our multiple goal scorers. Kyle Hamersley played his best game of the season, Stan Wright, Kye Willcocks and Jacob Msando were solid across half back and the engine room of Angus Schumacher, Jackson Ramsay and Hamish Brayshaw won the clearance battle against a very good midfield.

The Reserves started poorly before gaining some momentum across the 2^nd and 3^rd quarters. Ultimately, South Fremantle were way too good on the day and ended up taking out the contest by 61pts. Cooper Sparks and Adam Boules were amongst the ball winners, Thomas Amos battled away in the Ruck all day while Nicholas Bonomelli kicked 2 goals in a day where supply was very limited.

We now set our sights on East Fremantle in our first game at Leederville Oval since mid-July. Skipper Jackson Ramsay has announced his retirement after playing through injury the last couple of seasons. He is going to be a huge loss for the Club both on and off the field and we all wish him nothing but the best in his future. The boys will be looking to send him off with a huge game.

LEAGUE SQUAD CHANGES

Two Changes to the League side this week with Nicholas Robertson returning form a hamstring injury, while Nicholas Bonomelli earned a recall to the Senior Side and will face his old Club this weekend. Harley Sparks and Sandon Page have been omitted from the side.

INS: N.ROBERTSON, N.BONOMELLI

OUTS: H.SPARKS, S.PAGE

RESERVES SQUAD CHANGES

Four changes to the Reserves Squad this week with Bonheur Cubahiro returning to the Colts after playing up a grade against South Fremantle. Campbell Abbott will miss after a nasty concussion last week and Cooper Sparks has come down with illness and will miss the clash against the sharks. Nicholas Bonomelli also comes out of the side after earning a recall to the side. Prolific Midfielder Harley Sparks will play Reserves this weekend along with goal scorer Sandon Page who have both been omitted from the League Squad. Jake Symington will return from suspension and Ciaran Allsop has been recalled.

SENIORS INJURY LIST

Damon GREAVES (Ankle)

Cooper SPARKS (Illness)

Max FABRE (Knee)

Joshua HUBBARD (Knee)

Jesse KEATING (Ankle)

Archie HALL (Back)

Jedd EDWARDS (Foot)

Yugusuk SOKA (Shoulder)

Thomas EDWARDS-BALDWIN (Shoulder)

Bradley FULLGRABE (Foot)

Campbell ABBOT (Concussion)

Ethan REGAN (Knee)

THE COLTS SQUAD UPDATE

by Aaron Ballantyne, EPFC Talent Manager

In Round 20, the Colts will play East Fremantle at Leederville Oval. Like the Senior teams, this will be our first home game back at Leederville in a number of weeks. Bounce down is at 9:10am on Saturday. The Colts had a good win last week against South Fremantle, and will look to build on that performance this week.

The Talent Program would like to congratulate our Club Captain, Jackson Ramsay, on a wonderful career. We wish him all the best in retirement and the next steps of his life. Jackson has been a wonderful example of the EPFC Development Pathway, proving that hard work and dedication will help you to realise your footballing dreams. Congratulations RAMA!

COLTS SQUAD CHANGES

We have made four (4) changes to the side that last played against South Fremantle in Round 19.  Into the side comes Bonheur CUBAHIRO, who returns after a week in the Reserves team. Bailey HARBOUR is back into the team, returning from suspension. Reuben GINBEY comes back in after being sick last week, and will play his first Colts game of 2022. Bailey MAXWELL will also come in after recovering from a couple of niggles in his body.
 

INS: 10. Bonheur CUBAHIRO (Carine JFC), 24. Bayley HARBOUR (Morley JFC), 32. Reuben GINBEY (AMR/Dunsborough), 50. Bailey MAXWELL (Deanmill)

OUTS: 15. Bienfait KIHUSA (Bayswater) Omitted, 17. Joshua EDWARDS (Tigers) Work, 23. Jayden CAPPEAU (Bayswater) Quad, 44. Joshua HARRIS (Busselton)

EMG: 15. Bienfair KIHUSA, 4. Jake LOMBARDI, 40. Harry Micallef

COLTS INJURY LIST

Joshua Harris – Knee – 2 to 4 weeks

Jayden Cappeau – Quad – 1 to 2 weeks

Adam De Masi – Foot – 5 to 7 weeks

Bailey Maxwell – Ankle – 1 to 2 weeks

Jett O’Rourke – Shoulder – Season

Xavier Walsh – Foot - Season

Mitch Williams – Knee – Season

Jedd Busslinger – Shoulder - Season