CAMPERDOWN'S Riley Arnold had only featured in one representative squad before being selected in the Hampden league group last season.
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At that time he was unable to secure a spot in the junior interleague side. Then in 2018 he got his second chance to fight for a chance to play on the big stage for his league.
But again he was overlooked, this time he was an emergency as the Jonathan Brown-led Hampden league side defeated Bendigo at Reid Oval last season.
Now the 21-year-old has finally secured his chance to pull on the bottle green jumper and represent his club and league in this Saturday's AFL Victoria Community Championships against Ballarat.
Arnold, who will line up on the wing of Mars Stadium, said he was eager to jump at the opportunity to play interleague football.
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The Magpies' midfielder, who was a member of the club's senior grand final team in 2018, said his chance stemmed from hard work.
"I probably just took my footy to the next level and learning off the older fellas at the club and getting a few pre-seasons under my belt after stepping up from the under 18s," the Corangamite Shire employee said.
"I tried to learn off (former assistant coach) Cameron Spence and try and take aspects out of his game because he played last year on the wing. He told me to play my own game and use my strengths."
Arnold said he was eager to play alongside Koroit premiership stars Alex Pulling, Ben Dobson and Brett Harrington, who will vice-captain the side.
The Magpie said he could not see a reason why the "tight-knit" group Brown had brought together could not come away with its third victory in succession.
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