WARRNAMBOOL Wolves will take an “anything can happen” attitude to Victorian country championships at Ballarat this weekend.
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The Harris Street Reserve-based club will field under 12 and 15 sides at the championships, hoping to upstage its larger provincial rivals.
Respected coach Tim White is at the helm of the 15s, while club president Carlos del Rio will guide the under 12s.
The 15s play Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Shepparton and Gippsland in their four round-robin matches.
The 12s have the task of beating Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, South Gippsland, Gippsland, Ballarat and two Shepparton sides.
Del Rio said the young representatives were part of the Wolves’ junior program or the Warrnambool District Soccer League under 15 competition.
“The 15s squad we’re sending down there is up there with the strongest we’ve sent,” he said.
“They’re strong enough but they haven’t played together for that long,” he said.
“A lot of them have trained together and with the (South West Football) academy but some haven’t. They’ve come into the squad in the last three or four weeks.
“But Tim has got them working really well.
“He’s got their formations set up, he’s got the kids knowing what positions they need to play.”
The under 12 combination faces a much tougher task in one of the most popular age divisions, with development rather than success its main goal.
“They’re watching the World Cup and what’s going on the telly at the moment. They’re seeing how well the minnows are doing,” del Rio said.
Meanwhile, the Warrnambool District Soccer League season has a mid-season bye this weekend.
Jetty Flat Rangers lead the way with a flawless 24 points from eight rounds and a 59-8 goal difference — an average of more than seven goals a match.
Thunder Hawks (16), Merri Stingrays (13) and Hamilton Raiders (12) are next on the standings.