SANDHURST coach Brett Fitzpatrick has a major selection headache ahead of Saturday night’s clash with Kangaroo Flat.
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Livewire forward Mitch Dole is fit to play his first game of the season after recovering from a shoulder reconstruction, while full-forward Ryan Haythorpe has recovered from a hamstring twinge suffered in the round two win over Kyneton.
The big question for Fitzpatrick is can he find two places in the senior squad for Dole and Haythorpe?
The Dragons are flying after three consecutive big wins.
“Mitch has to get through training on Tuesday and Thursday nights first, but everything indicates he’ll be right to play,’’ Fitzpatrick said.
“He’s joined in full training the past few weeks and he’s got the all clear from the medical staff.
“Mitch and Ryan should be right, so we just have to work out if they are straight in (the seniors) or whether they come back in the early game (reserves).
“We didn’t expect Mitch to get back until after the inter-league break, so he’s done everything right to get back early.
“His ball work has been good and he’s done plenty of running, it’s just a matter of getting that confidence back with the shoulder.”
Dole kicked 57 goals in 22 games for the Dragons last year, including a four-goal haul in the grand final loss to Strathfieldsaye.
Haythorpe kicked 53 goals in 18 games in 2014, including hauls of five and seven in the Dragons’ two games against Kangaroo Flat.
Sandhurst also has key players from last year’s senior side Brodie Montague and Albert Weddell running around in the reserves at the moment.
“If we don’t make any changes to the senior side this week there’s every chance we’ll have four players from last year’s grand final side playing in the reserves,’’ Fitzpatrick said.
“It’s a good sign for our depth and a good problem to have.
“Last year we struck some injury trouble late and we played three Pioneers kids in the finals.”
BFNL round five matches - Golden Square v Kyneton, Strathfieldsaye v Maryborough, South Bendigo v Gisborne, Castlemaine v Eaglehawk, Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst (n).