GOLDEN Square has axed young players Oliver Collins, Ben Archard and Ben Pollock for tomorrow’s BFNL grand final against Gisborne at the QEO.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The young trio all played a role in Square’s second semi-final win over Gisborne a fortnight ago, but the return of premiership players Simon Rosa, Luke Hammond and Jack Geary left selectors with an agonising decision.
Collins is the most unlucky out of the three. He has played 13 senior games this year and was in his side’s best players when Square and Gisborne played out a draw in round 17.
Pollock and Archard both spent most of 2012 with the Bendigo Pioneers.
Rosa returns from a groin injury that forced him out of the second semi-final, while Hammond (foot) and Geary (finger) will play their first matches in five and four weeks respectively.
Meanwhile, Gisborne looks set to go into the grand final with the same 22 players which won last Saturday’s preliminary final against Strathfieldsaye.
Clay Illman (hamstring) and David Antonowicz (hamstring) both pulled up well from their return matches last week.
Gisborne added Michael Thornton to its squad as an emergency, but he’s not expected to play.