Shepp News |
Two-time Victoria Country representative captain Guy Campbell has been named in the initial Vic One squad, despite not playing a game of football this season.
The former Sydney Swan returned to boyhood club Echuca United in Murray Football League this year, after four seasons with Goulburn Valley Football League club Rochester, but is still working his way back from pre-season back surgery.
His last game was the Tigers’ GVFL preliminary final defeat to Seymour in September.
Ex-AFL great Peter Knights, who will coach the Vic One team for a fifth time, said Campbell would be given every opportunity to take his place in the side.
‘‘I know Guy very well, he’s been our captain over the last two or three years (and) he was the All-Australian captain last year, so we’re prepared to nominate him as a part of the squad to be considered when and if he’s available,’’ Knights said.
‘‘He’s not that far away (and) he may run out of time, but such is the respect for Cambo, we’re prepared to go with that and see how he comes up the next two to three weeks.’’
Knights said Campbell would not play unless he was 100 per cent and was hopeful of him getting ‘‘a couple of games under his belt’’ with Echuca United first.
Campbell’s teammate and Eagles playing coach Scott Beattie was also named in yesterday’s preliminary squad, which will be trimmed ahead of the match against Victorian Amateur Football Association at Junction Oval on July 7.
They, along with Shepparton United swingman Tim Looby, are among just 10 players in this year’s squad that were part of the Australian Country Football Championships winning team of last year.
‘‘There’s only three players in the squad that played against the VAFA up in Shepparton two years ago as well, so there’s a big turnover of players and that’s come about as a result of injuries, unavailability and new players putting their hand up and saying, ‘My form has been good, pick me’,’’ Knights said.
Looby is one of nine players from the GVFL interleague team that lost top spot on the AFL Victoria Country Championships rankings to Geelong last month to make the Vic One list.
The others are Tatura trio Brendon Hollow, Paul Kirby and Tom Sullivan, Kyabram’s Jason Morgan, Paul Newman and Tom Sheldon, Benalla playing coach Luke Morgan and Mooroopna power forward Daniel Lewis.
If selected, it would be the third state Lewis has represented, having previously pulled on jumpers for Queensland and Western Australia.
Echuca United had a further three players in the Vic Two squad, coached by John Cossar.
Eagles Ryan Prendergast, Rowan Priest and Farran Priest were joined by Finley speedster Ryan Bongetti and Moama forward Tyler Jones, while Violet Town’s Pat Horsburgh was Kyabram District Football League’s sole representative in the 48-strong squad.
Vic Two will take on a VAFA B to Division 4 representative team at Harry Trott Oval, Albert Park.
Finley coach Damian Sexton will coach the Vic Country under-19 team for the sixth time.
MFL senior interleague trio Ash Morris of Deniliquin Rams, Kaine Greening of Congupna and Marcus Jackson of the Cats are joined in the 48-man squad by eight GVFL young guns.
Tatura and GVFL senior interleague defender Tom Miller returns after playing a starring role last year, while Benalla’s Sam Martyn, Lachie Smith and Jake Pallpratt, Chris Down and Matt Di Bella of Shepparton United, Shepparton Swan Nick Calandro and Echuca’s Matt Hay are also up for selection.
