BUNINYONG (6th) v GORDON (4th)
at Buninyong
Saturday, 2.30pm
LAST TIME: Gordon 17.12 (114) d Buninyong 14.14 (98), round 17, 2014
BUNINYONG stalwart Mark Phelps is the only current senior player left standing from the Bombers’ last premiership in 2002.
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And he’s still going strong.
Dubbed the most versatile player in the club’s history by Bombers life member Stan Hunter, Phelps will run out for his 250th open-age game this Saturday.
And he will share the milestone with fellow Bomber and current reserves coach Paul Harris, who will play his 300th in the twos.
Phelps and Harris both made their senior debuts in the same game – against Gordon in 1998 – and played together in Buninyong’s long-awaited senior flag in 2002.
Aside from three seasons at East Point, Phelps has been a loyal servant to the Central Highlands Football League club, finishing as a joint senior best and fairest – with Simon Crowe – in 2001.
While it will be a sentimental day for Phelps, the importance of the match shouldn’t be underestimated.
Buninyong will host a Gordon side desperate to bounce back from its 91-point thrashing at the hands of rivals Springbank last weekend, while looking to consolidate its place in an ultra-competitive top eight.
Senior joint-coach Jarrod Morgan said ruckman Chris Oliver was available for selection after missing last Saturday’s win over Beaufort with a hamstring issue, and he was named to take his place on Thursday night. Meanwhile, spearhead Glen Phelps – brother of Mark – was left out of the side again with his own hamstring troubles.
Gordon will be without key defender Mark Gunnell, who has been selected in the Victoria Country 2 team that will take on a side from the Victorian Amateur Football Association in Bendigo on Saturday.
Forward Steve Nicholson is also a chance to return after pulling out with soreness for the game against the Tigers.
PREDICTION: Gordon by a few goals.