Bulls load up for Railways

Mt Barker and Railways are expected to make a host of changes ahead of their crucial clash in round 5 of the Great Southern Football League at Sounness Park on Saturday.

The two teams are locked on 12 points and a victory will cement second spot, with all sides having played each other once.

The Bulls will bring back key defenders Adam Tissott and Tyson Sujdovic, while Ben Ireland and Tyron Miller are also possible inclusions, according to Bulls coach Shane Thompson.

Thompson also indicated half-back Daniel Dalby would not play after pulling up sore from last week’s 12-point win over North Albany.

“Dalby was pretty sore after the game and it’s only early in the season, so he will probably have this week off,” he said.

Former Fremantle Docker Andrew Foster has lodged a transfer to the Bulls, but Thompson said Foster would not play this week. Tigers coach Craig Frost said his side would have some changes, with Zak Hortin, Dylan Schorer, Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson and Riley Quilty expected to come back into the team after their big win against the Sharks.

Meanwhile, Royals will look to remain the only undefeated side in the competition when they face off against the Kangas at Centennial Stadium on Sunday.

The Lions lose Mitch Curnow, Rory Callaghan and Fraser Bradbury for the contest, while Taylor Powell and Jaxon Nottle are expected to play. In a blow to the Kangas’ prospects of notching their third win of the season, star midfielder Matt Orzel will miss the clash because of a trial match for the State Country side.

Key forward Beau Rogers injured his hamstring last week against the Bulls and is expected to be out of action until after the general bye for the WA Day long weekend, with Michael Martain and Nathan Dovey likely to come into the Kangas’ squad this weekend.

Albany hosts Denmark-Walpole at Centennial Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the other round 5 fixture.

Sharks’ Jordan Garrood and Tigers’ Nathan Penn have escaped suspension after their off-the-ball incident, when the pair were red-carded in the second term of the round 4 clash at Tigerland.

Both players were reported, with Penn pleading guilty to his charge of wrestling, while Garrood fronted the GSFL tribunal on Tuesday night and was found guilty of striking and also received a reprimand.