Ovens and Murray rules out Wang Rovers player Brodie Filo

A key Ovens and Murray talent will not be available for the long-awaited interleague contest against Goulburn Valley on Saturday.

Ovens and Murray has been forced to leave out Wangaratta Rovers star Brodie Filo for its interleague clash with Goulburn Valley after a shock no-show for his club match last Saturday.

Filo previously represented the O and M when he played for Wodonga Raiders before returning to Bendigo league club Eaglehawk early in the 2019 season.

O and M interleague coach Damian Sexton. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

He trained with the O and M squad last week, but coach Damian Sexton confirmed today he could no longer be considered after not playing for Wangaratta Rovers against Corowa-Rutherglen last round.

“We would have loved him to play,” Sexton said.

“He let his teammates down last week and his coach Daryn Cresswell and the Wangaratta Rovers club, especially Daryn, because he has had a great influence on him.

Brodie Filo in action for Wangaratta Rovers this season. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“I was 100 per cent playing him because he was fit and firing.

“He is a great talent, he trained with us last week and was keen to play.”

Wangaratta Rovers football director Barry Sullivan said the club was looking into the reasons why Filo didn’t play on Saturday.

“Finding out what the facts are is the first port of call,” he said.

Wangaratta Rovers coach Daryn Cresswell. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Filo played under Cresswell when he coached Wodonga Raiders and the former Sydney Swans player recruited him to the Rovers this year.

Filo’s previous stint in the O and M ended in controversy when he was forced to apologise to the league for his behaviour on the night he won the league’s coveted Morris Medal.

The O and M interleague will train on Wednesday night in Wangaratta ahead of the Goulburn Valley clash at Mooroopna on Saturday.