VCFL State Teams – Getting Set For Country v City Clash
With the conclusion of the senior interleague matches in the WorkSafe Country Championships and a number of stand-alone fixtures across the state, we have now turned our attention to assembling the finest footballers from all regions into our three state teams to wear the ‘Country Big V’.
State representation is the highest level of achievement a player can have within the VCFL system, and is a tremendous feather in the caps of the players selected. This year many players will get their first opportunity to represent the state, while other will build on impressive records with another showing in the Big V. Whatever the scenario, it is reward for effort and dedication to their football.
The same can be said for the umpiring panels selected on the day. The best performing umpires from across the regions will be blowing the whistle for these matches.
The VCFL are very proud to be able to field our three teams this year to play the Victorian Amateur Football Association on Saturday July 9th at Deakin Reserve in Shepparton. The clashes always have a little of the ‘country vs. city’ mystique about them, and the recent contests have been closely run clashes. The last two senior results have swung on the final kick of the day.
The VAFA team has recently returned from Adelaide as National Amateur Champions, while our VCFL Vic1 team is the reigning national country champion, won in Canberra last year. This year’s main game at Deakin Reserve has some grounds to be touted as “The Championship of Community Football”.
Some 34 senior leagues have been represented by players in the initial training squads for all three sides. It is a testament to the hard work of the selectors and coaches that they are able to select from right across the state, giving as many footballers as possible the opportunity to train and play with the best players from across the state.
There have been some slight changes to the selection models for our Vic Country state teams this year. Traditionally our VCFL teams were chosen as follows: Senior Team (Major Leagues), District Team (District Leagues) and U19 team.
To increase the scope and competitiveness of what was formerly known as the District Team, this squad has been chosen from WorkSafe Country Championship teams ranked 11-20 (2011) as well as all other Senior Leagues (even if they are not competing in the WorkSafe Country Championships). This team is now known as GrainCorp VCFL 2.
The aim of the change is twofold;
- to increase the strength of the 2011 GrainCorp VCFL 2 team and,
- to enable players who commit to represent their leagues in the WorkSafe Country Championships, in teams which are ranked in the lower half of competing leagues, with the ability to represent the WorkSafe VCFL.
The 2011 Graincorp VCFL2 training squad has been drawn from 22 leagues across the VCFL.
North Central legend John Cossar is head coach of this team this year, ably supported by Gil Ould, Luke Beattie, Andrew Sutton and Bruce Petering as assistant coaches and selectors. John Hallam is the team manager. They play the representative side from Divisions C-D4 in the Ammo’s.
The WorkSafe VCFL Vic1 team can now selected from all registered players who represent their leagues in the WorkSafe Country Championships. This year’s training squad is dominated by players from the top ten leagues in the WorkSafe Country Championships.
Peter Knights continues his role at the helm of the VCFL Vic1 team, with crucial support from Terry Harding, Steve Hammond, Joe McLaren and Stuart Gay. All these coaches have a long connection with the VCFL State program and are passionate supporters of representative football.
The U19 Representative team is again being led by Damian Sexton and the selection criteria has not changed, being able to choose from all WorkSafe VCFL players eligible by virtue of their age.
Sexton is assisted by an all star country coaching panel of Tony Tranter, Andy Quenault, Justin Peckett, Marc Quarell and Russell Ednie.
Given the attention being paid by AFL selectors to players who may be late bloomers, or slipped through the TAC Cup net – this game and these coaches have a tantalising role to play in selecting and grooming the best crop of new talent ready to slot into AFL lists.
Action kicks off at Deakin Reserve on Saturday July 9th at 10:30am, and will finish in the twilight with the main game.
Please visit the VCFL website for further information on selected sides and fixtures.
For those that can’t make it to Shepparton for the big clashes against the Ammo’s, the VCFL will be streaming both the radio call and the live vision from Deakin Reserve from 10:30am through the VCFL website.
Brett Connell
WorkSafe VCFL Operations Manager
Last Modified on 21/06/2011 15:49