Ballarat takes on Hampden in interleague under-23 contest

Carlton legend Anthony Koutoufides will be in charge of moving the magnets once again when he leads a country footy league’s representative team against another ex-AFL star this weekend. He shares his excitement.

Mitch Fino celebrates a goal during last year’s interleague. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

It was an easy decision for former AFL star Anthony Koutoufides to coach the Ballarat league’s interleague team again.

He has unfinished business beating Hampden and Jonathan Brown.

Ballarat takes on Hampden in the second interleague match between the two using the under-23 concept.

Last year, Ballarat won by 16 points, winning the contest in a decisive second quarter where the home team scored five goals to one.

Anthony Koutoufides is back this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

This year, Ballarat travels to Warrnambool, knowing they’ll face a determined side seeking revenge.

“It was an unbelievable experience last year,” Kouta said.

“We were thrilled last year to beat them. We know they were devastated too that they lost and have put a team together who they feel can beat us.

“It’s going to be a full on event, the players have to be ready for it, we can’t go half paced.

“It’s going to be a massive game.”

Ballarat’s squad this year is a mixture of experience and first timers.

In fact the 24-man squad is split half and half with 12 playing last year and 12 getting to experience interleague.

Ballarat will have to deal with the loss of Riley Polkinghorne with injury but most of the key players from last year return.

Riley O'Keefe, right, was the best player in last year’s interleague for Ballarat. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Kyle Borg, Jake Sutton and Mitch Fino, who combined for six goals, all return, as well as Riley O’Keefe who was Ballarat’s best player.

Koutoufides said these games provide a perfect opportunity to showcase their skills and attract attention from VFL and AFL clubs.

Last year, Harrison Minton-Connell went from playing in Ballarat and Essendon VFL to playing full time for Port Melbourne in the VFL this year.

“I played with Simon Minton-Connell, and to be able to coach his son who is now on the (Borough) list was really exciting for me,” he said.

“That’s what it is all about. A lot of these kids have aspirations of AFL and VFL and we want to be able to expose them.

“It would be good to get games to a level where we are playing before a senior game. I hope that this can really build.

“It is the best way to get the best talent on display in both leagues.”

But even the former Carlton star was surprised about how competitive the game was last year.

And he expects no different this year, now Ballarat is entering hostile territory.

He hopes a similar game plan can provide the same result.

“Last year maybe it was speed that got them over the line,” he said.

“Hampden came back hard and had a chance to win. It was lucky we secured a goal at the end.

“I see it being a big four quarter effort. These kids are elite really.

“They play one certain way and we are not going to make them play another way. We’ve got the able to use it like last year.”

And Koutoufides can’t wait to coach again in.

“I could have easily said no but I enjoyed it and loved it so much last year I couldn’t say no this year.

“I’m looking forward to coaching again this year.”

The game starts at 4.15pm.

Ballarat’s squad

Rye Penny (Bacchus Marsh), Josh Huxtable (Bacchus Marsh), Isaac Nixon (Bacchus Marsh), Brady Wright (Darley), Zane Le Huray (Darley), Liam Howard (East Point), Liam Canny (East Point), Conrad Farrugia (Melton Bloods), Kyle Borg (Melton Bloods), Adrian Monitto (Melton Bloods), Cody Chapman (Melton South), Mitch Fino (Melton South), Broden Collins (Melton South), Josh Sparkman (North Ballarat), Isaac Carey (North Ballarat), Lachlan Bond (Redan), Taj Bond (Redan), Khy Jess (Redan), Riley O’Keefe (Sebastopol), Jake Egan (Sunbury), Jake Sutton (Sunbury), Riley Miller (Sunbury), Benjamin Cameron (Sunbury), Mitch McLean (Sunbury).