RDFL 2019: Interleague coach Ben Tankard set to sound out biggest stars ahead of AFL Victoria Community Championships
New Riddell District Football League representative coach Ben Tankard hopes the competition’s biggest names will commit for this year’s statewide carnival in May.
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New Riddell District Football League representative coach Ben Tankard hopes the competition’s biggest names will commit for this year’s statewide carnival in May.
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The RDFL will host the Southern league in a clash Tankard believes is a “great opportunity” to claim the scalp of a metropolitan competition.
“I think on paper we would probably line up pretty well with the Southern Football League,” Tankard, who coaches Macedon, said.
“Interleague doesn’t always reflect that, depending on the side you get on the park.
“But it’s a great opportunity for the Riddell to get some recognition against a metro comp and showcase our talent.”
The RDFL has enjoyed success in the AFL Victoria Community Championships in the past two years under Arron Bray, defeating the Central Highlands and West Gippsland leagues.
Tankard hopes to continue the RDFL’s ascension by convincing the league’s elite talent to be part of the squad which tackles the SFL on May 18.
“We’re going to put together a list of what we think are the marquee players of the competition, try to contact them personally and see what they think and what their involvement might be,” he said.
“If we can get a few of the big names of the competition locked in early, then hopefully we can get a bit of momentum going and really try and put a strong team out on the park.”
The RDFL defeated the Central Highlands league by three points last year thanks to telling contributions from Rupertswood duo Todd Podolczak and Brent Swallow, Romsey’s Ayden Tessari and Wallan’s Shaun Stewart.
“I still think there was a lot of really good players in the competition that didn’t play,” Tankard said.
“That will probably be the case again for some players, certainly the older ones sometimes enjoy the rest or just don’t have interest in interleague.
“That’s why I’m trying to contact them personally, see if we can swing a few of the bigger names early and then hopefully a few dominoes follow from there.”
The RDFL interleague squad will be named after Round 2 and Tankard said he would select a “balanced” team.
“The top 22 players probably consist of midfielders and key forwards, but you need guys to play as a small defender, a defensive wingman, maybe a defensive midfielder,” he said.
“I will be looking for particular players that can do those roles really well.”
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