An opportunity to make up for missed games and having fun with mates are some of the reasons players are eager to participate in the new under 23 football competition.
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The competition will feature Hampden league clubs Warrnambool, South Warrnambool, North Warrnambool Eagles, Koroit, Terang Mortlake and Portland in its inaugural year.
It will run from November 12 to December 10 at Deakin University with four rounds and a grand final.
Koroit's Patrick Haberfield, 20, South Warrnambool's Jonah Maher, North Warrnambool Eagles' Seb Shiells, both 18, and Terang Mortlake's Daniel Kenna, 22, were all excited to play in the new competition.
Haberfield said he and his Saints teammates were eager to hit the field and take up the opportunity to make up some games they had missed over the past two years.
"Everyone is keen to go out and play footy. We don't have to worry about pre-season before Christmas as us younger lads can play footy until December and get into hard stuff after Christmas," he said.
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Maher said he was keen to have a kick with mates, stay fit and have some fun leading into summer.
Shiells said the competition was a good chance for game time and also for personal development.
"It helps all the younger blokes develop their skills and get better for senior footy," he said.
"It helps us build into pre-season. I'll work on my kicking and ball use and running around the ground for a bit of agility."
Kenna said it was a good chance to catch up with teammates. He said there wasn't much pushback within the Bloods' playing group.
Mental health charity Let's Talk has also thrown its support behind the competition.
"It is a brilliant concept as our organisation's target audience is youth and we help support young people and get them to talk about their issues," committee member Ken Solly Said.
"There is nothing like having a venue where you can get people together, interacting and forgetting about the problems of the world."
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
