Geelong Advertiser | BFL interleague coach Mark Hildebrandt maintains his side can overcome a talented Wimmera outfit on the road, despite the absence of several key players.
The BFL will enter the 15v16 playoff clash in Horsham with just two players from the team that lost to Casey Cardinia last season, but Hildebrandt insists his young side can trouble Wimmera on Saturday.
“I’m really confident,” Hildebrandt said.
“I’ve had a lot of blokes pull out but they’re all keen and they’re all fit.
“We’ve got the luxury of having an under-25 side and I think that’s a good setup for this criteria of footy,” he said.
“With the level we’re at in the rankings, you have to pick your best squad and fortunately, or unfortunately, 10 of my best players are older blokes and they were playing the best footy but when it comes to interleague they want the week off for family or rest.
“It’s that sort of predicament but with the blokes that have put their hand up, we’ve still got a very strong side.
“It’s young and they are keen, so we’re halfway there.”
Skipper Tom Limb and vice-captain Ben Lavars are the only players to suit up in successive interleague games, with almost 10 walk-up starters making themselves unavailable.
Peter Hardy and Ryan Dahlhaus (Anglesea), Joel Heil (Barwon Heads), Kane Smith (Geelong Amateur), Leigh Anderson (Modewarre), Josh Gray, Troy Bird, Alex Adams and Matt Johnston (Torquay) indicated they did not want to play interleague.
The BFL is also without ruckman Peter Street (wedding) and Tigers coach Dom Gleeson (work commitments) from the initial 50-man squad.
But Hildebrandt said the loss of a host of key players had not weakened his squad.
“I don’t think so. I’ve still got a couple of key stakeholders that I wanted when I picked the initial squad in Nick Orvis, Tom Limb and big Mitch Day,” he said.
“They were the three big names I wanted, and they have committed, which is fantastic.”
Hildebrandt said he was excited to unleash young Anglesea spearhead Josh Bouwman, who would form a three-pronged attack with Torquay’s Matt Deledio and Ammos’ Day.
“Anglesea has been really competitive this year and he’s a big left footer,” Hildebrandt said.
“He used to being the key forward for Anglesea on a Saturday but for us he might get the third best backman and that’s something we’ve got up our sleeve because he’s been very impressive.”
With Dylan Holland withdrawing through injury, Tiger Bill Barnes has stepped up to fill the void at centre-half-back.
“He wasn’t in the initial squad but he was brought to our attention by Dom Gleeson and he’s a superb looking athlete,” Hildebrandt said.
“He’s 6”3 and can play any position and he’s keen to get on board and play.”
Leaders Limb and Lavars will form the on-ball brigade alongside Barwon Head’s Matt Dyer
and Queenscliff pair Luke and Nik Orvis.
