25 players from small towns across Victoria will return home fatigued but full of pride after representing their state at the 2010 Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival. On the final day of competition, a fatigued Victoria Districts team completed their campaign losing to WA and NSW.
The West Australian team proved too strong with more options up forward running out winners in the first game of day 4.3-27 to 1.6-12. Best players for Victoria were Ben Harrison, Ryan Haythorpe, Matthew Wade, Brad Hutchinson, Clay Brewer and Steve Schultz.
The final game of the carnival saw the Victorian Districts team come up against NSW and fatigue was a major factor in the 30 point loss - NSW winning 9.1-55 to Vic Districts 4.1-25. Matthew Davidson managed to kick three of Vic District's four goals making him one of the team's best during the game along with Shane Brewster, Matthew Wade, Brad Hutchinson and Chris Urie.
According to coach, Ron Thomas, the players gave everything they had during a tough three days of competition.
"Because we were ranked number seven in the ratings we had to do the hard work on the first day and were the only team to play 4 games," said Ron Thomas.
"On that first day we played super but we did drop away through absolute fatigue in the final games today. Unfortunately people only look at the scoreboard and don't see the effort that the boys put in. I believe the team played as well as they possibly could and the whole carnival was a great experience for them.
"Only two of the players had ever represented Victoria before and in the overall perspective of the competition these boys have come and played against best in Australia and when they go home the experience will be something they'll always remember.
Ron Thomas was particularly pleased with a couple of players including one youngster who he hopes will be rewarded with an All Australian jumper later today.
"Matthew Wade is a young boy from Nar Nar Goon in Gippsland. He's won our best player award for the carnival and I'm really hoping that he is in the running for an All Australian jumper and the best under 21 player.
"Our Captain, Steve Schultz, was also outstanding and really led by example. It's amazing to think that he comes from a town - Kalkee in Western Victoria - that doesn't even have a school, post office or hotel and he's here playing with the best country footballers in Australia.
By Jock Allan
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