Cooper Whyte will pull on a Grovedale jumper for the first time in more than four years in tomorrow\u2019s clash with Bell Park at Hamlyn Park.<\/p>\n
Whyte last featured for the Tigers on May 15, 2021, and was one of the best players in a win over North Shore at Burdoo Reserve.<\/p>\n
He then spent the remainder of the year at the Geelong Falcons before being drafted by Geelong.<\/p>\n
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Whyte spent two years on the Cats\u2019 list, making one AFL appearance in 2023.<\/p>\n
Delisted by Geelong at the end of that year, he joined VFL club Werribee, featuring in their drought-breaking premiership in 2024.<\/p>\n
With their flag defence not making it past the now-finished home-and-away season, Whyte has been released back to Grovedale for the final two rounds of the GFNL season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really excited to have a Grovedale junior back in our team and someone who has been at the games all year and been really desperate to play on the (VFL) bye weeks,\u201d coach Jacob Spolding said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd now he gets his opportunity, which we\u2019re looking forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Whyte will also get the chance to play alongside a handful of teammates from Grovedale\u2019s 2019 AFL Barwon under-17 Division 1 premiership team.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom looking at the team, I think there are five players who played in the under-17 premiership side from a number of years ago,\u201d Spolding said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey all get to play senior footy together pretty much for the first time, which is exciting. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the pathway that footy clubs hope for when they set up their junior programme \u2013 that a number of players come through together and play senior footy. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe get to do that tomorrow, which is a great story for our footy club.\u201d<\/p>\n
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In further good news at selection for Grovedale, it will also have access to Geelong VFL big man Nathan Kreuger.<\/p>\n
The former Cats and Collingwood AFL player featured against St Albans in Round 14, kicking seven goals to help the Tigers to a 27-point win.<\/p>\n
Spolding is confident that the addition of Kreuger and Whyte can again help Grovedale challenge the fifth-place Dragons.<\/p>\n
When the two teams met in Round 7, Bell Park held off the Tigers in a two-point thriller, raising hopes of an upset tomorrow afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe certainly go in thinking we can win; there\u2019s no doubt about that,\u201d Spolding said<\/p>\n
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\u201cBell Park have been playing some really strong football since that day we played them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand that they\u2019ll be coming out having a real crack because they\u2019ve got finals on the line. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that we can\u2019t play finals, but we can maybe shape the finals. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur aim tomorrow is to go out and compete really aggressively. Having Cooper and Nathan in the team will add some firepower for us, and we\u2019re excited to see what we can produce.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bell Park welcomes back Jett Bermingham, Mitch Mahady and Nick Petering, after all three were managed out of last week\u2019s win over North Shore.<\/p>\n
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They replace Rhys McWaters and Round 16 debutants Charlie Trezise and Dom Demirovic.<\/p>\n