MPNFL to take a strong side into winner-take-all interleague clash with Geelong FL
WITH the chance to play on the MCG, local footballers are doing all they can to make the cut for the Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL interleague side.
Mornington
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WITH the chance to play on the MCG, local footballers are doing all they can to make the cut for the Mornington Peninsula Nepean FL interleague side.
A squad of 44, including ex-AFL men Aaron Edwards and Luke Tapscott, have been training since January under the guidance of coach John Hynes.
The MPNFL will play against the top-ranked Geelong league on the MCG on Saturday, May 13 to determine who will take the number one mantle in Victorian country football.
The clash will be a curtain raiser to the AFL Essendon-Geelong night game.
Hynes said training had been razor-sharp.
“Selection is going to be a nightmare to be honest,’’ he said.
“Everyone has been super keen to be involved. The enthusiasm for it has been great.
“Everyone is doing all the right things. The way it’s going, there are going to be a lot of good players miss out.”
Former West Coast Eagles, North Melbourne and Richmond forward Edwards and ex-Werribee and Tasmania Devils spearhead Tim Bongetti will lead the Peninsula’s attack.
The midfield will include ex-Melbourne player Tapscott, league medallist Kyle Hutchison and Sorrento captain James Hallahan, while former Frankston Dolphins defender Byron Barry will lead a strong backline which will include Dromana star Rikki Johnston.
“We’ve got options in every position, basically,’’ Hynes said. “Finding the right balance is going to be the hard part. We’ve got to make sure we get that right.’’
Hynes said he and his squad had discussed the best way to play the vast expanses of the MCG.
“We’ve worked a bit on ball movement,’’ he said.
“We’ve got good enough players around the footy to win our share of it. The key factor will be how we use it going forward and making sure we put them under pressure when they’ve got it.”
The GFL beat the Eastern Football League by 24 points last year, while the Mornington Peninsula beat Northern league.
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