Goulburn Valley: Mark Lambourn appointed coach of interleague team

Goulburn Valley has confirmed its coaching arrangements for the May 20 clash against Ovens and Murray at Albury.

The Goulburn Valley has settled on premiership coach and Morrison Medal winner Mark Lambourn to coach its representative team against Ovens and Murray next month.

Lambourn coached Shepparton Bears to the GV flag in 2000 and won the league’s highest individual honour four years earlier.

He is also a premiership player at O and M club Wodonga, with the long-time rival league thrashing GV by 55 points at Mooroopna last year in the only interleague match played at senior level in the state.

Paul Newman coached Goulburn Valley against Ovens and Murray last year. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Former Fremantle coach Damian Drum and current Mooroopna coach John Lamont were poised to take the job in a joint coaching capacity in mid-February.

But the GV board called for “expressions of interest” in the position and the pair subsequently dropped out.

Lambourn’s assistant coaches are Simon Eishold, who previously coached the GV interleague team, and Dion Sheehan.

“It will be great to see what could be argued as the two most powerful country football leagues go head to head,” Lambourn said.

“We look forward to showcasing some of the marquee players blended with some young aspiring and very talented players as we look to field the strongest team we can.”

The victorious Ovens and Murray league team that beat Goulburn Valley last year at Mooroopna. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Lambourn played in winning and losing grand finals with Wodonga in 1990 and 1989.

The GV clash with O and M will be held at Albury on May 20.

Damian Sexton will coach the O and M again.