Goulburn Valley: Vic Country All-Stars match for under-25s plan

Goulburn Valley ended the Ovens & Murray stranglehold on their rivalry with an overdue win on Saturday. See all the action.

Victorian Country’s best mature-age talent will be playing in front of AFL recruiters at the MCG or Marvel Stadium if a Goulburn Valley league director has his way.

Fresh off a drought-breaking win against Ovens & Murray last Saturday, the GV’s Peter Cardamone said the only way interleague can be saved is if under-25 aged players had the incentive of showing their wares to AFL clubs to potentially become the next Joe Richards, who played in the corresponding match two years ago before being drafted by Collingwood.

“I’m a massive fan of the concept,” Cardamone said.

“You have got to give those guys an incentive to play on a bigger stage from the very start.

“All the AFL clubs will be there because all the players are under 25.

“That is the sweet spot for recruiters.”

Goulburn Valley’s Matthew Lias slides in for a mark. Pictures Yuri Kouzmin

Under Cardamone’s plan he will present to AFL Victoria, a player would only be eligible to play in the Vic Country All-Stars match if they’ve represented their league in an earlier interleague game such as GV and O&M.

Players would also be picked from other potential match-ups including Gippsland-Mornington Peninsula, Geelong-Ballarat, Bendigo-Central Murray and Hampden-Wimmera.

The state would be split in half to form the two teams to meet in the All-Star match.

“It’s the only way interleague footy is going to survive,” Cardamone said.

“We’re never going to get the best players playing anymore.

“Unless they are remunerated, they’re not going to play.

“We all know that.”

GV’s Joel Brett and O&M’s Julian Hayes compete for the ball.

Cardamone’s plan has won the backing of O&M chairman David Sinclair.

“I’d support anything that keeps interleague going and incentivises guys to play,” Sinclair said.

“We need more support from AFL Victoria to continue interleague and as our peak body they should be stepping up to provide that support.”

The GV and O&M have been the only leagues to play every year since the Covid-enforced shutdowns of 2021-22.

GV’s Jett Trotter tackles O&M’s Julian Hayes.

But Hampden and Ballarat will meet for a second year in a row on July 6 at Warranambool’s Reid Oval in a match for players under 23 years.

On the same day, Bendigo is playing a Victorian Amateurs team with players drawn from their Premier B to Division 3 competitions.

Last Saturday, GV turned around a 28-point deficit early in the second quarter to beat O&M by 15 points at Deakin Reserve.

“We were on the canvas a bit in that first quarter and a bit,” Cardamone said.

“But we were able to get up and record a great win.”

O&M’s Matthew Casey slides into a tackled from GV’s Isaac Dowling.

GV’s Hugh Byrne launches for a mark over O&M’s Zac Pethybridge.

GV’s Matthew Lias marks in front of O&M’s Brody Ricardi.

GV co-coach Mark Lambourne and O&M coach Damien Sexton catch up after the match.

O&M’s Zac Pethybridge takes possession.

GV’s Matthew Lias celebrates the match sealing goal in last quarter.

GV’s Hugh Byrne marks in front of O&M’s Julian Hayes.

GV’s Bryce Stephensom and Max Clohesy fly for the ball.

O&M’s Jedd Longmire fires off a handball.

O&M’s Brodie Filo.