The Standard | >WARRNAMBOOL and District’s interleague co-coaches have enlisted some of the competition’s top tier to help spearhead the chase for back-to-back victories.

Dennington coach Darcy Lewis and his Merrivale counterpart Karl Dwyer are guiding the squad in its country championships fixture against Mid Gippsland.

But the task of building enthusiasm among players for the one-off clash will not solely rest on their shoulders, with four clubs represented on the selection panel.

Allansford’s Josh Parkin-son, Old Collegians’ Nathan Forth and Dennington’s Chris Keilar will help assemble the strongest-possible squad to travel to Morwell.

Craig Fraser, a member of the WDFNL interleague selection panel in recent seasons, will also provide valuable input.

The panel considered clubs’ nominations last night and will spend the coming week canvassing interest in representing the league among the playing ranks.

Training has been locked in for May 6 and 13, both Wednesday nights, and May 19 and 21, the Tuesday and Thursday before interleague weekend.

Lewis said the selectors would divide the nominations between themselves and “get on the phone straight away”.

“We want to make sure we’ve got 25 blokes who are raring to go and are keen to go up there and win,” he said.

“The last few years, a lot of people indicated they’re keen early but they got cold feet on the whole idea. We really want to put our best side on the park by all means, but we want to make sure everyone is really keen.”

He believed playing at Morwell, an 800-kilometre round trip, had its drawbacks but also its advantages.

“Obviously the people with kids and family commitments, it’ll be harder for them,” he said.

“On the other side, a few of the younger blokes might be keen on the idea. As soon as we start making phone calls we’ll get a general feel.”

Lewis was rapt to secure the help of his counterparts. Parkinson is the current Cats coach, Forth is a former Warriors mentor and Keilar is an assistant at the Dogs.

“Josh was good last year, he’s got a pretty good football brain. He gives a good insight into what we’re looking for in an interleague squad,” he said.

“I definitely wanted Josh involved, it wasn’t a case of targetting Allansford players, he’s just a good individual to have involved.

“Forthy is another one who’s very passionate about his interleague football. They’re blokes you want driving it.”

WDFNL revived its senior interleague program in 2013, falling 13 points short in a thriller against Colac and District at Warrnambool’s Reid Oval.

Redemption came 12 months later in the form of a seven-point win at Colac’s Central Reserve.

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