Former Warrnambool champion and Merrivale coach Jason Rowan has been named alongside Kolora-Noorat recruits Ben Fraser, Jason Moloney, Ben Walsh and Sam Harkin.

Nirranda’s Brayden Harkness and Will Paulin have been hand-picked after encouraging form this season, while former Central Highlands league best-and-fairest Nick Sullivan will also front up.

East Warrnambool coach Danny Chatfield, 33, has also been included as the squad’s sole Bomber.

Second-year interleague coach Darcy Lewis said he was delighted with the quality and enthusiasm in the 25-man squad.

The squad will be trimmed by just two players before the May 13 clash with the Maryborough Castlemaine District league at Reid Oval.

Lewis, a Dennington premiership mentor, tipped a talent-packed forward line to pose headaches for Maryborough Castlemaine District defenders.

“I think once guys like Jason (Rowan) and Ben (Fraser) put their hands up, it was a good win for the side,” he said.

“They’re filling very important roles at their clubs but they’re still very willing to help out and to play. 

“It puts a lot of confidence into the boys around them knowing they’re out there. We’ve just to get through the next couple of weeks without injury, now.”

Lewis said interleague provided a chance for players to form strong off-field friendships.

“You don’t get the chance every day to play with these sort of players. I really enjoyed my interleague days,” Lewis said.

“When you’re playing games for your club, you don’t really get to know you’re opposition and you can walk away with a false judgement of character.

“But when you’re batting for the same side, you realise you’re playing alongside some really good blokes.”

He believed the squad to be among the strongest the league had fielded.

“I’m confident. When I came in last year, we tried to make sure the players we selected wanted to play for the league,” Lewis said.

“Because they’re the ones who stand up in the tight games.”