CO-COACH Karl Dwyer says adjusting to the intensity of interleague football will be pivotal to Warrnambool and District claiming a memorable triumph.
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The representative side will chase back-to-back AFL Victoria country championships wins when it takes on Mid Gippsland at Morwell’s Ronald Reserve today.
The footballers stayed at a school camp near Trafalgar last night and head to Morwell today. First bounce is at 2pm, after an under 18 curtain-raiser.
Dwyer, who will co-coach alongside centre half-forward Darcy Lewis, highlighted handling the early pressure as pivotal to a positive result.
Major league, TAC Cup and VFL experience in the Mid Gippsland ranks has the coaching staff wary about what could come their way.
“It’s going to be important, our start, especially with them on their home ground and if they’ve got a pretty good side, which it sounds like they do,” Dwyer said.
“It could easily be a blow-out. Hopefully we can make sure we break even early and get on top.”
He backed outside run in the Warrnambool and District ranks as being a weapon to counter its opponent, as was the case in a come-from-behind win last year.
Warrnambool and District, then coached by Simon “Tocka” O’Keefe, trailed Colac and District by 27 points at three-quarter-time but prevailed by seven in a thriller.
“You’ve got that again with Alister Porter and Izaac Dwyer. Sammy Gleeson is another one,” Dwyer said. “Hopefully in the last quarter they’ll be doing that as well.”
The side chosen on Thursday night represents the strongest available to Dwyer and Lewis after injury and unavailability ruled out a host of top talent.
Sam Doukas and Luke Duncan will hold down the key defensive roles, as they did 12 months ago.
Justin Wallace and Rick Spokes have the goalkicking responsibility.
The pair have a collective 54 majors at club level this season.
Rhys Raymond and James Keane are the ruckmen, with Gleeson, Izaac Dwyer and Leatham Robe the starting onballers.
Mid Gippsland coach Chris Kyriacou was pleased with the calibre of players he had at his disposal.
He noted 16 had experience playing in the Gippsland league or with TAC Cup club Gippsland Power, or had been on a VFL list.
They include Yallourn-Yallourn North onballer Adam Bailey, who took out the GFL best and fairest with Morwell last season.
Yinnar’s James Dowling is among others with solid credentials. Dowling won the MGFL best and fairest in 2013 and was runner-up in 2014.
“We’re classed as being one of the lower leagues of the three or four around us. Hopefully the boys we put out on the park can change a few opinions,” Kyriacou said.
“That’s the biggest thing for us. I want to kick-start a culture of guys who want to make themselves available and understand why interleague is important.”
Kyriacou highlighted pace and skill level as strengths of his side. Ominously, he wanted his men to boss the midfield battle.
“The four midfielders who will be starting have all played in the major league and all dominated in the major league,” he said.
“We’ve got a couple of assistant coaches and coaches in the side. I’m hoping experience at this level may take a toll, especially early.”
“I know myself playing in the past, it’s such a hot footy in the first 10 minutes. Hopefully the guys who have played at that higher level can respond and set the pace.”
Mid Gippsland lost to Ellinbank and District in its interleague fixture last year but won convincingly against Picola and District in 2013.
afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au