AFL Outer-East names its inaugural interleague squad for AFL Victoria Community Championships
Just 12 months ago the AFL Yarra Ranges and the South-East Football Netball League rep sides did battle in an AFL Victoria Community Championships clash at Beaconsfield. This year they’re kicking the same way as the AFL Outer East
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Things can change a great deal in 12 months, particularly the footy landscape.
A year ago the AFL Yarra Ranges and the South-East Football Netball League rep sides did battle in an AFL Victoria Community Championships clash at Beaconsfield.
A year down the track, all players will be kicking the same way with the two leagues joining forces to create AFL Outer East.
And, on Thursday, that partnership took another step forward with the announcement of the league’s first representative squad.
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The 50-player squad will now set itself for an interleague clash with the Bendigo Football League at the Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday, May 18.
Interleague coach Nick Rutley’s initial squad has an even spread of clubs supplying players.
Berwick and Cranbourne lead the selections, with eight apiece, while Beaconsfield and Narre Warren have seven each.
Wandin and Woori Yallock both have five players in the squad while Olinda Ferny Creek (three), Doveton (two) and Healesville (two) are also represented.
Emerald, Monbulk, Mount Evelyn, Officer, Pakenham and Upwey Tecoma all have one player in the squad.
When first appointed rep coach Rutley said he was conscious of spreading the load between clubs as much as possible.
“I’m very conscious of what to demand of the clubs and players,” Rutley said. “We’ve got to respect what’s happening (at this stage) in the season, getting the right balance in what we ask of them. It’s going to be a cracking 22 if we can get them all together.”
The playing group will be led by a four-man leadership group: Jordy Williams (Woori Yallock), Marcus Hottes (Olinda Ferny Creek), Madison Andrews (Berwick) and Brandon Osborne (Cranbourne).
Rutley said the league’s first interleague team had a big chance to bring the two former leagues even closer.
“It’s really exciting because it’s a clean slate,” he said. “So maybe we can do a few things that haven’t been done in interleague before. With the new league we’ve heard a lot of push back and angst. But now we’ve got a big chance (to bring everyone together).”
AFL OUTER-EAST
Senior Interleague Squad
Beaconsfield: Jake Bowd, Damien Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Scott Meyer, Boadie Motton, Jack Griffiths, Riley Verbi
Berwick: Madi Andrews, William Arthurson, Tim Gunn, Harrison Money, Ash Smith, Trent Thomas, Travis Tuck, Jo West
Cranbourne: Dillan Bass, Luke Bee Hugo, Kirk Dickson, Ryan Jones, Brandon Osborne, Glen Osborne, Anthony Vella, Michael Wenn
Doveton: Lachlan Batten, Michael Sikora
Emerald: Jake Pedder
Healesville: Nick Mende, Jake Roe-Duggan
Monbulk: Glenn Strachan
Mt Evelyn: Callum Urqhart
Narre Warren: Trent Cody, Corey Machaya, Mitch Cox, Jessie Davies, Aaron Wilson, Brad Scalzo, Josh Tonna
Officer: Mathew Clarke
Olinda Ferny Creek: Marcus Hottes, Lachlan Taylor, Luke Hill
Pakenham: Jeconiah Peni
Upwey Tecoma: David Bell
Wandin: Justin Van Unen, Rohan Heasley, Harrison Byrnes, John Ladner, Patrick Bruzzese
Woori Yallock: Jordan Williams, Robbie Allen, Jake Matthews, Hayden Smith, Michael Risely
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