Riverine Herald |
One Moama and five Echuca United players will represent Vic Country in its biennial matches against VAFA.

Six district players have been selected to represent AFL Victoria Country when it plays the Victorian Amateur Football Association on Sunday.

An incredible five Echuca United players — coach Scott Beattie, Guy Campbell, Rowan Priest, Farran Priest and Ryan Prendergast — have been named, while Moama's Tyler Jones will also feature.

It is the fifth time Campbell has been selected for Vic Country One and he will captain the team for the third year in a row.

''It feels great,'' he said of being chosen.

''Any time you get to pull on the big V it's an honour to do so.

''Not everyone gets to it and that's what makes it such a special thing, but a challenge at the same time.''

The 2011 Morrison medallist was selected in the initial squad by coach Peter Knights before he had played a game for the Eagles after having back surgery during the off-season.

Campbell said one of the best things about the experience was the knowledge he was representing Victoria.

''For any young footballer growing up, you remember games like Victoria v South Australia in the State of Origin and how big it was back then,'' he said.

''You wonder if you'll ever get the chance to do it.

''To do it as a country footballer makes it all the more better.''

United coach Beattie will join Campbell in the Vic Country One team, but said he was more pleased at the number of representatives which came from his club.

''I'm really happy with the selections given how much work has been put in,'' he said.

''Given we (the Murray Football League) is ranked 11th, it is really good to have five guys get through the process.

''I think it is the most representatives of any club in Victoria over all three grades, so it's a really good thing for us.

''It is very easy to coach good players and it goes to show we're doing the right things at the club to get them and keep them.''

Jones and Rowan and Farran Priest will play for Vic Country Two, while Prendergast has been named an emergency.

It is the first time any of them have been selected for a senior Vic Country squad, but 21-year-old Farran has had some experience with the representative team as a junior.

''It will be a good experience, especially with my brother playing as well,'' he said.

Jones said he was ''pretty proud'' of being selected in the team.

''It's been a bit of a breakout year for me with changing clubs for the first time,'' the 22-year-old said of his move from Leitchville-Gunbower to Moama.

''I'm enjoying my footy at the moment.''

One of the other benefits of selection was the experience of training and playing with others from across the state.

''At the training sessions the skills have been great and it's good to have that sort of experience,'' 27-year-old Prendergast said.

Having so many players from one club and the area was also a positive, Rowan, 26, said.

''It's a great honour, also representing Echuca United and having five players selected from the club,'' he said.

''We're pretty proud to be representing the club,'' Prendergast added.

''There's a good atmosphere around the club with the seniors and the reserves, as well as the netballers.''

Rowan will start in the midfield and Farran off the bench and will rotate into the forward line, while Jones was initially named at full-forward.

''I'm hoping to start there, it's a good opportunity for me,'' Jones said.

''I'm just really looking forward to it and hopefully I can snag a few goals.''

The AFL Victoria Country One game against VAFA seniors will be played at St Kilda's Junction Oval at 2pm, while the Country Two game against VAFA B to Division Four will start at 11.30am at Harry Trott Oval at Albert Park.

The under 19s game will also be at Junction Oval, starting at 11.15am.

By Geordie Cowan

Article first appeared The Riverine Herald July 5, 2013