Geelong Advertiser |
GEELONG has enhanced its reputation as Victoria’s top football breeding ground, with a host of players named to represent the famous Big V this weekend.
Ten players were selected in state squads for Saturday’s triple header of Country v Metro blockbusters in Geelong.
Six Geelong Football League stars were chosen in the highly anticipated AFL Victoria Community Clash that sees the best of country Victoria face off against the might of a combined team from Melbourne’s premier community leagues at Simonds Stadium.
South Barwon’s Tom Stewart won a berth in the squad for a second successive year, while Bell Park’s Tim Sheringham adds another state guernsey to his long list of accolades.
Stewart and Sheringham are joined by Geelong West-St Peter’s ball magnet Kevin Bourke, Grovedale spearhead Jordan Erskine, St Mary’s key defender Tom Gillies and St Albans star Danny Nicholls, who helped the GFL to retain the No.1 mantle with a convincing win over Peninsula earlier this year.
Bellarine Football League stars Ben Lavars (Geelong Amateur) and Josh Finch (Modewarre) forced their way into the Vic Country No.2 squad, while Bell Park’s Matt Tyquin and St Joseph’s Tom Atkins were named in the under-19 Vic Country side.
Newtown & Chilwell’s Cameron Fowler is one of three emergencies for the under-19 team.
The Vic Country No.1 squad has trained for the four consecutive Sundays in Melbourne but coach Peter Knights said it was about creating a bond rather than focusing on a implementing a game plan.
“When the players have all driven upwards of three hours to be there and usually played a game the day before, it’s no use getting them to focus on game plans and that sort of thing,” he said.
“It’s about getting to know each other developing some camaraderie.”
The team’s leadership group, including captain and vice-captain will also be announced following training on Wednesday night.
The players will then meet in Geelong on Friday to begin preparations for the historic match.
On the same day, Vic Country No.2 team will face a representative team from the Victorian Amateur Football Association’s Premier B to Division 4 competitions.
And the Victoria Country under-19 team will tackle a under-19 VAFA team.
Both matches will be played at the St Albans Reserve in Geelong.
Originally published as Geelong stars to pull on Big V
