Colac and District Interleague coach Kane Leersen will wait until Sunday to finalise squad with tight home-and-away turnaround

Just two days separates Colac and District league’s round 8 home-and-away fixtures and an under-25 Interleague clash with rivals Geelong and District - so how will they manage it?

Kane Leersen, pictured in 2018 as coach of Colac, is at the helm of Colac & District league’s Interleague squad for 2025. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Colac and District Interleague coach Kane Leersen will wait until Sunday to finalise his squad, conceding the “difficult” prospect of managing a two-day turnaround from the league’s round 8 fixture.

The CDFNL will go head-to-head with the Geelong and District league in an under-25 football fixture on Monday, played at Winchelsea’s Eastern Reserve from 2pm.

But while the fixture fits nicely into the GDFNL’s league-wide bye, the CDFNL will navigate a quick turnaround between their round 8 fixtures on Saturday and Interleague two days later.

Leersen confirmed he would name an extended squad this week, before finalising the team on Sunday once “we know how everyone pulls up” after Saturday’s matches.

He said there was an innate conflict to see players do right by their home clubs – with third-placed Lorne and fourth Colac Imperials looming as the match of the round.

“It’s a complex one, and I think it's something, if we can make this an annual fixture, that both leagues would be able to tie it into a consistent scheduling,” Leersen said.

“It is difficult, within reason we’re trying to manage some guys, but obviously they’ve got big games to play on Saturday.

“It’s just sort of play it by ear.

“I think the only benefit they all do have is everyone’s young and enthusiastic so hopefully that gives everyone the best opportunity to recover well.”

Irrewarra-Beaac’s Mitchell Thornton is among the 34-player CDFNL Interleague squad. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Leersen – an ex-coach at Colac and Birregurra, and former premiership and Interleague player during his time with the Tigers – acknowledged it would test players’ resilience but encouraged a positive mindset in taking pride in representing their community well.

“There is no magic recipe for them to prepare well other than to grit the teeth and get on with it,” he said.

The CDFNL previously named an initial squad of 65 before cutting it to 34 – with reigning premiers Lorne boasting the most selections with six.

Leersen – who will go toe-to-toe in the coaching ranks with his former Colac mentor Paul Lynch — said the buy-in from his players had been outstanding.

He said he’d encourage his players to showcase their talent and take the game on, and pointed to Lorne’s James Hughes and brothers Jesse and Ted Middleton, Irrewarra’s Mitch Thornton and Tom Ennor, and Imperials’ duo Austin Arnold and Jett Price as several players to keep an eye on.

“Hopefully it’s a high scoring affair and something for the observers to enjoy just seeing these young guys have a crack,” he said.

34-player CDFNL football squad: Hudson Harrison, Ashton Harrison, Dylan Murnane, Alex Diamond (Apollo Bay); Liam Cunnington, Darcy Collins, Will Jarvis, Jezz Zydbel (Birregurra); Luke O’Shannassy, Liam Cunningham, Austin Arnold, Jett Price, George Melville, Trey Wheadon (Colac Imperials); Tom Ennor, Bryce McDonald, Harry Carmody, Charlie Morrissy, Mitch Thornton (Irrewarra); Frazer Balderas, James Hughes, Jesse Middleton, Ted Middleton, Cole Fox, Corey Przastek (Lorne); Sam Mulgrew, Conor O’Meara, Carl Daffy (Otway Districts); Tyler Loricco, Bailey Mumberson (South Colac); Elijah Reid, Toby Kent, Dom Absalom, Luke Fish, Jeremy Smith, (Western Eagles).

• Monday’s Interleague fixture also includes an under-17 netball match from 12.30pm, with senior netball to follow from 1.30pm.

Originally published as Colac and District Interleague coach Kane Leersen will wait until Sunday to finalise squad with tight home-and-away turnaround