Sport
23 May, 2026
CONFIDENT IN COMEBACK
BEARS Lagoon Serpentine is adopting a risky hit-and-run strategy with explosive key forward Josh Mellington.
BEARS Lagoon Serpentine is adopting a risky hit-and-run strategy with explosive key forward Josh Mellington. The prolific goalkicker has not been seen this year as he recovers from ankle and thumb surgeries after the end of last season. Coach Jake Wilkinson is confident Mellington will be back for the second half of the year, although his return date has been consistently revised from an initial round three, and he is now not expected back until after the King’s Birthday split round. Round nine will see Inglewood and Bears Lagoon Serpentine playing a standalone match on June 6 to mark the Woodies’ 150th anniversary. If Mellington were to get back on the field after that bye week, he would have 10 games before finals, if his body holds out. Wilkinson is confident that the stocky forward can do in half a season what few others can do in a full year. “He’s getting himself right and he will be a welcome return,” Wilkinson said. Mellington has played only 21 matches for the Bears in his two years at Serpentine due to persistent leg injuries but has booted 191 goals at an average of 9.5 per game. It is that stunning average that Wilkinson is relying on helping to propel his side into the finals with real momentum when the former Fremantle Docker returns. The Bears, however, will need to be in a position to challenge for the top five, and they have had a very shaky start to the season, sitting in eighth place on the ladder with a 2-4 record. Wins against Calivil and Maiden Gully have come with losses to Marong, Macorna, Bridgewater and Newbridge. Serp has been forced to spread the scoring load in Mellington’s absence, and it has been a mixed bag. The Bears had 11 goalkickers in the victory over Calivil but only five a week later against the Mean Machine and a mere three against Newbridge. Frazier Holland has been the spearhead most weeks, but despite wearing Mellington’s number 88 guernsey, he has only kicked six goals in five games. Mid-sized forward Farren Priest, who has stepped up in previous years when Mellington has been injured, is the Bears’ leading goalkicker with 16 for the season. High-flying Pyramid Hill visits Serpentine this week, with the Bears staring down a 2-5 start. Mitiamo a week later shapes as a win, but that is followed by the special clash with Inglewood, which will have every incentive to bring home a victory. If Serp were 3-6 at the halfway mark finals might be out of the picture, Mellington or no Mellington.
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