Coolamon will get a couple of key inclusions for Sunday’s showdown against Collingullie-Glenfield Park at Kindra Park.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Key recruit Jack Baker is set to don Coolamon colours for the first time, while young guns Josh Buchanan and Ryan Allen will also come in for their first game for the Hoppers this season.
It could not come at a better time for Coolamon, who have not played since a 104-point loss to Griffith at Kindra Park on May 13.
The Hoppers have had three weeks to stew on their worst loss since 2012, due to the representative weekend followed by their club bye.
They will need the reinforcements, too, with key forward Joe Redfern and his younger brother Luke both set to miss Sunday’s clash.
They join captain Mitch McKelvie on the injured list, while former skipper Jamie Maddox is in doubt with a quad injury.
WIth the Hoppers still searching for second win of the year, it has been a tough start to Connor Neyland’s coaching career.
“Things haven’t clicked but we keep losing key players to injury, and we still are this week,” Neyland said.
“We’ve got to hang tough and try to get through to the end of this first round, then load up for the second round when we get a few back.”
While just the one win and three losses is not the ideal start, Neyland has not lost faith.
“I’m still confident once we get a few back from injuries,” he said.
“I think we’ll be a lot more competitive and play a bit better once we get everyone on the park together.”
One of those players is Baker, who arrived at Coolamon with Nick Pleming from Canberra Demons.
He is a highly regarded key defender that is returning to playing after a knee reconstruction.
“He’s right to go,” Neyland said.
“He’ll play somewhere in the backline to start with and we’ll go from there.
“He might not play all game, coming off a knee, but we’ll wait and see.”
Buchanan is likely to join Neyland is a key forward role, in the absence of Joe Redfern.
Will Graetz is likely to get the job on Collingullie full-forward Marc Geppert.
Neyland’s main focus is to see an improved effort from his team.
“Our focus is on effort,” he said.
“Our effort wasn’t good enough against Griffith. We want total effort and commitment.
“We want four quarters of effort, every bloke has got to try and beat his opponent. I want 100 per cent man on man effort.”
Coolamon hope to have their latest Tiwi Island recruit arrive on Friday. Neyland did not rule out rushing him into the senior team.
