Treat our Kangas recruits with respect: Thompson

Mt Barker coach Shane Thompson expects his side’s North Albany defectors to receive a fiery reception when the two clubs clash in the much-anticipated grand final rematch at Collingwood Park on Sunday.

Key Bulls recruits Daniel Parker and Matt Smith will face their former club for the first time since crossing in the pre-season after the Kangas’ third-straight premiership.

Adding to the intrigue of the grand final rematch, veteran Kangas premiership player Doug Roberts has also crossed to the Bulls and made his first appearance for his new club last Saturday along with youngster Adam Brady, who has also joined from the Kangas.

Thompson hoped his recruits, especially Parker and Smith, would be shown respect by the North Albany faithful.

“I think it will be a bit fiery early on, but at the end of the day it’s just a game of footy,” he said. “They are North Albany people and premiership players and I would like to think their supporters will respect them and understand the reasons they did what they did and chose to leave.

“They did a great thing for their footy club and hopefully they can do the same with us.

“They are going to be switched on and wanting to play well.”

Thompson said reliable key defender Adam Tissott would miss the match after injuring a ham-string last Saturday.

He said captain Sam Lehmann would likely play after experiencing hamstring tightness and the ever-reliable Peter Taylor would return to the Bulls line-up while wingman Ty Miller will miss another match along with recruit Ben Ireland.

Only 20 points in total separated the two sides in their last four clashes last season with the Kangas prevailing in the grand final by three points after the Bulls won the second semifinal by four points.

The Kangas are likely to be boosted by the return of Matt Orzel (groin), Brock Ramsay (hand), Brodie Sumich (ribs), Nathan Dovey (hamstring) and Ray Padfield (illness) while utility Luke Cameron will remain on the sidelines after his knee injury was confirmed as a medial ligament strain and will likely miss the next three matches.