Media Release | After two training sessions and 11 Rounds of BFNL Senior Football, the BFNL together with Senior Interleague, Head Coach, Simon Rosa and his assistant coaches are proud to announce its Senior Interleague team to take on the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) on Sunday 13 July at 2pm at the Queen Elizabeth Oval (QEO).
Form at Club level and the buy-in during the two initial training sessions made selecting a final squad of 26 incredibly tough, but the selected squad represents the absolute best of the BFNL’s senior football talent.
BFNL Senior Interleague Team
Michael Hartley – Castlemaine
Tom Strauch – Golden Square
Matthew Wilkinson – Sandhurst
Ben Thompson – Eaglehawk
Jayden Bourke – Golden Square
Jack Fallon – South Bendigo
Jack O’Shannessy – Eaglehawk
Ethan Roberts – Kangaroo Flat
Brock Harvey – South Bendigo
Shane Clough – Gisborne
Lachie Hood – Sandhurst
Brody Haddow – South Bendigo
Zac Vescovi – Gisborne
Cobi Maxted – Sandhurst
Callum Crisp – South Bendigo
Jack Reaper – Gisborne
Fergus Greene – Sandhurst
Kaiden Antonowicz – South Bendigo
Harry Luxmoore – Gisborne
Lachlan Tardrew – Sandhurst
Cooper Jones – Strathfieldsaye
Matthew Merrett – Gisborne
Lachlan Wright – Sandhurst
Bode Stevens – Strathfieldsaye
Jordan Rosengren – Golden Square
Cooper Smith – Sandhurst
The squad features representation from all eight BFNL Clubs and includes 10 players who represented the Blue & Gold in last years interleague matchup against the VAFA including 2024 BFNL Captain and defensive pillar, Jack Reaper from Gisborne.
Senior Interleague Coach Simon Rosa praised the commitment and talent of the final squad, “We’ve had strong buy-in from across the competition, and we thank the players and their Clubs for being so open and accepting of our Rep Football ambitions.”
“I couldn’t be more impressed with the way the group has trained and connected through the first two training sessions,” Rosa said. “We’re expecting a high-quality match against the VAFA and the boys are excited to represent the league with pride at the QEO.” An exciting inclusion for the Senior squad is Eaglehawk’s teenage sensation, Jack O’Shannessy who’s stellar form has seen him lifted into the Senior squad from the Under 19’s. “Jack has been super impressive with his form so far in 2025. To be playing the level of Senior footy he is as a teenager is a credit to him and he deserves his opportunity in the Senior team.” The Senior team will confirm it’s leadership group in the lead up to Sunday’s match.
The team will complete two additional training sessions on the QEO on Wednesday 9 July and Friday 11 July before a final starting 23 players plus 3 emergencies is confirmed. The BFNL invite all supporters, families, and clubmates to get to the QEO on July 13 to support high-level representative football.
