18 Apr, 2012 04:00 AM
XAVIA Elford, Tom Spicer and Josh Domaille, from Tooleybuc Manangatang Football Club, Xavier Mertz, from Swan Hill, and Adam Johnson, of Woorinen, were all selected to play in the under 15 Central Murray schoolboys team to compete in the V-Line Cup in Melbourne earlier this month.
The boys were asked to try out last September among 70 other hopefuls from Central Murray, Echuca, Golden Rivers, Kyabram and Rochester league areas, which all come under the Central Murray banner for this event.
Elford was the pride of the Central Murray for the event, eventually being named int he Team of the Championships. The young Saint was also yesterday named in the Vic Country squad for the state school sports in coming weeks.
The boys attended trainings in Kerang with coach Jamie Macri and Swan Hill with assistant coach Dean Bennett over the summer.
They also went to a football camp at Gunbower where the new Bendigo Pioneers coach David Newett spent some time training the group.
They played a practice match in Bendigo prior to final selection.
Xavia Elford was appointed captain, while Tom Spicer and Xavier Mertz were both appointed vice-captains.
During their four day trip to Melbourne for the V-Line Cup carnival the team completed trainings, team meetings, a tour of Carlton's Visy Park, attended the V-Line dinner and function with other teams and had a tour of the Western Bulldogs facilities at Whitten Oval.
Victorian Country Football League chief executive officer Steven Reaper said the carnival was again a success.
"The weather for the 2012 V/Line Cup was magnificent and certainly added to the Carnival atmosphere at the grounds today," Reaper said.
"It also made for a terrific brand of football being played with a swag of high marking and quick ball movement across all the games.
"It was again a great spectacle and a great showing of the talent we have in football in country Victoria."
In division two, Central Murray overcame Wimmera by 4 points, 7.10 (52) to 7.6 (48) and defeated Geelong 2 by 42 points, 15.8 (98) to 8.8 (56) on their way to the grand final, but were soundly beaten in the decider by Frankston Peninsula Stingrays going down by 66 points.
Other teams competing in divsion two were Hampden and East Gippsland.
AFL Victoria regional development manager Trevor Mellington said representative squad announcements would follow in coming weeks.
"As yet, I haven't had any feedback about possible Victorian Country Squad representatives but I have great delight in congratulating Xavia Elford who was named in the V-Line Team of the Championships," he said.
"Also, I would like to again pass on my sincere gratitude to all of our staff -- Jamie Macri, Dean Bennett, Dave Dickson, Greg Lake, Keith Blackman and Kevin Evans -- who gave up their time voluntarily to provide such a great environment and learning opportunity for these boys and it is greatly appreciated."
Last Modified on 29/05/2013 11:56