By Jonathan B Geddes

A CANDID Gordon coach Dave Telfer admits it will be a bit weird, but he is looking forward to his return to TG Millner Field on Saturday for one of the most anticipated games of the Shute Shield season against his former club Gordon.

The build-up to the big grudge match could not have been scripted any better, pitting Telfer and five former Woods players against their old club for the first time in a game that could have huge ramifications for the make-up of the top six.

Towards the end of last season, the Woodies announced they would be parting ways with coach Telfer for 2026. At that stage the team was right in contention for a finals berth, and he was a nominee for the Dave Brockhoff Medal as Shute Shield Coach of the Year.

After Eastwood finished fourth, Telfer’s old club, Gordon, appointed him as their new coach for this season, and a host of players followed him to Chatswood.

“It’s something from my end that took a while to process,” Telfer told Rugby News.

“It is now Round 12, and we have all moved on from it. I had a good five years at Eastwood, and a few of the boys did as well.

“I genuinely am grateful to Eastwood for giving me the opportunity to coach first grade, but I will say I have settled back into Gordon really quickly.

“It will be one of those things I will look back on and say ‘I loved Eastwood for five years, but Gordon is my club and always will be my club’.”

PRODIGAL SON IS BACK

REFLECTING on his imminent return to Millner Field, Telfer said: “Obviously it will be a little bit weird at times. Maybe I might go into the wrong changeroom at one point, but hopefully I will get that right.”

Telfer also said he was looking forward to catching up with some of the Eastwood players who have reached out to him.
Eastwood co-captain Max Stewart, who started playing Colts in 2016 and bleeds blue and white, described the events at the end of 2025 as disappointing.

“But we have moved on and have a really positive attitude,” Stewart offered and said the players tried to stay out of the drama.

“Those disruptions can be pretty toxic to a group, so we just focused on ourselves,” the Woodies hooker said. “We’ve got a really good group in the club at the moment and a really good coaching staff.”

He has had no contact with his former coach, Telfer, since his departure.

Asked if a win on Saturday would be even sweeter given the events that transpired, Stewart replied with a laugh: “I have no comment on that.”

POINTS TO PROVE

THERE will be even more feeling in the battle as Gordon sits in third spot on 41 points with Eastwood just one point behind and an eight-point gap to the Wildfires. The winner will be in the box seat to secure themselves a spot in the top four.

“The most important thing about this game is that it is third against fourth, to be honest,” Telfer said. “And if it is the final at TG Millner, to be given the opportunity to coach there one more time is something I wanted to do.”

Stewart said the game presented a big opportunity for Eastwood to jump a spot on the ladder.

“We’ve been building really nicely this year and are really happy with how we are progressing with a pretty new side,” he said.

Central to the Woodies’ success has been head coach Anthony Griffin, who took over for Telfer after a long career in the NRL.

“He’s a really good man manager and gets the boys really motivated,” Stewart said. “He gets a lot out of us, which is really good. And he understands the rugby player really well and I think that helps us a lot.”

Telfer did not agree that Saturday’s winner will lock down a top four spot.

“I don’t think it will go that far, there are some teams really coming into form,” he said.

He highlighted sides like Norths, Randwick and Sydney University who can gather momentum and go on undefeated runs.

“I think the only two teams who can feel safe are Warringah and Easts,” Telfer said.

IMAGE: ANDREW QUINN/Gordon Rugby