WARRNAMBOOL and District will field a much-changed side when it chases AFL Victoria country championships success against Mid Gippsland tomorrow.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Just nine of the 22 players bound for Morwell featured in the memorable come-from-behind triumph against Colac and District at Colac last year.
And only four — Sam Gleeson, James Keane, Darcy Lewis and Alister Porter — have played in both interleague fixtures since the program was revived in 2013.
A short training session in light drizzle at Mack Oval last night finalised preparations for the clash, between AFL Victoria’s 27th and 28th-ranked country leagues.
Allansford onballer Leatham Robe will captain Warrnambool and District, with his Merrivale counterpart Sam Gleeson as deputy.
Dennington’s Justin Wallace and Nirranda’s Rick Spokes received the nod from selectors to be the key forward options.
Allansford’s Sam Doukas and Dennington’s Luke Duncan are the key defenders.
Merrivale’s Rhys Raymond and Allansford’s James Keane will split the ruck duties.
Robe, Gleeson and Russells Creek’s Izaac Dwyer — who joined the Kangaroos from Geelong West-St Peter’s — are the starting onballers.
Warrnambool and District co-coach Karl Dwyer urged those who played last year to harness the emotion surrounding that triumph come Saturday.
“Last year we were five goals down at three-quarter-time and the boys came home with a strong win,” he said.
“This year it’s going to be pretty tough at their ground but we’re very excited. We think we can do the job.
“Most years you have that turnover. There’s always a few blokes you could’ve picked who didn’t put their hand up or are injured.
“But to have nine (from last year) in and a new mix should hold us in good stead.”
Dwyer said the side chosen reflected the standard of the Warrnambool and District league, which has arguably improved in recent seasons.
“The side we’ve got out there is the best side we can pick and put on the park. I’m sure they’re going to account themselves well,” he said.
Mid Gippsland named a 23-player squad yesterday, with selectors to omit one before the first bounce.
But coach Chris Kyriacou opted against allocating positions for his players, keeping his cards close to his chest with league pride on the line.
Mid Gippsland thrashed Picola and District at Princes Park in 2013 and suffered an 89-point hammering against Ellinbank and District last year.
Kyriacou, who completed a pre-season with Terang Mortlake in 2010 while working at the Mortlake power station site, backed his men to prevail. “Out of the 42 invites we’ve had close to 15 injuries to a lot of key players.
“But the squad in general, I’m very happy with the quality available,” Kyriacou said.
“Sixteen out of the 23 players have either played Gippsland Power, represented the major league down here or they’ve been on a VFL list at some stage.
“So there are 16 guys who on paper have played in a higher standard league to ours.
“We’re rapt with the quality. We’ve got a couple of real individual standouts.”
--