Injuries hit VAFA ahead of clash with AFL Vic Country but coach Stuart Powell still confident
Despite losing ex-Carlton/North Melbourne star Jarrad Waite, VAFA rep coach Stuart Powell is confident the Ammos have the depth to get the job done against Vic Country
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Tonight, VAFA rep coach Stuart Powell will put the finishing touches on his squad ahead of its big interleague clash with AFL Victory Country at Carlton’s Princes Park on Saturday.
“We started with a squad of 45 and we’ve got that down to 25 or 26,” he said. “Tonight at training we’ll select the final team.”
And, while the VAFA has been dealt a few more injury blows than in recent campaigns, Powell is confident the great depth the Ammos command at rep level will hold him in good stead.
“It’s been a bit more challenging this year with a few injuries,” Powell said. “Jarrad Waite had some slight hamstring tightness and he won’t be playing.”
Though the Carlton/North Melbourne 244-gamer has been sidelined, Powell said the VAFA will still field a number of players with top flight experience, including the University Blues pair of Cam O’Shea (92 games with Port Adelaide and Carlton) and Josh Green (105 games with Brisbane and Essendon).
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Elliot Le Grice, ex-Sandringham and currently Collingwood VFL, as well as former Richmond rookie Ben Darrue are also set to take the field for the Big White V.
“As hard as it is to lose guys like Jarrad, our strength will be our depth of the squad,” Powell said. ‘We’ve built a strong camaraderie in the group and there’s likely to be 10 playing who played against Adelaide last year.”
The VAFA has been untouchable in rep footy in recent years.
Last season it scored a 50-point win over the Adelaide Football League at the Thebarton Oval in Adelaide while it last played Vic Country at a windswept Frankston Oval in 2017 and won by 82 points.
Powell is in no doubt this year’s clash will be a far tighter affair.
“Full credit to Vic Country, they’ve put together a very strong 22,” he said. “We’re expecting a massive challenge, particularly after two years ago.
“They’ll really be out for revenge.”
Powell said he didn’t think the prospect of playing on a large ground and in a stadium like Prince Park would cause too many problems.
“We asked the guys at training the other night and the vast majority of the boys had already played there,” he said. “And if you look at the weather, it’s going to be cold and wet.
“As big as the ground is, you don’t really know what you are going to get.”
With last year’s skipper George Burbury travelling overseas, Old Melburnians’ Josh Freezer has been appointed captain with Sam Critchley (St Kevin’s) and Harry Hill (Old Brighton) his deputies.
VAFA v AFL Victoria Country will do battle for the Brian Moloney Cup at Princes Park (Carlton) on Saturday from 1pm.
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