Seymour will have two representatives take to the interleague stage this year, with star forward Michael Hartley and ultra-consistent on-baller Jack Murphy both selected after excellent starts to the season.
Echuca (seven) and Kyabram (eight) dominate this year’s contingent, making up exactly half of the 30-man squad, with both sides enjoying fantastic starts to the 2022 season.
Legendary Kyabram coach Paul Newman takes the reins of the GVL side. He explained what went into picking this year’s squad.
“It was a matter of touching base with coaches first and foremost to get their thoughts on potential candidates who are in good form, and then between the few of us we put together a bit of a shortlist,” Newman said.
“They are all in the top echelon of players at their club, so it is always exciting to get a group of players that can bounce their talents and skills off one another.
“We have a group of players we think are going to get in there and have a crack, so I think we have definitely come up with the best list we possibly could.”
With the squad finalised, preparations will now begin to ramp up for the GVL side, as it looks to get its hands on the coveted Ash-Wilson trophy.
“Now having this team together, we will have a training run Wednesday night. We wanted to minimise the burden on the clubs and players as much as possible in the hope of getting the best squad together,” Newman said.
“So we will have a good run (Wednesday night), get everyone together and then go into the Saturday game and put our best foot forward.”
The task will be a tough one, however, with Ovens and Murray sporting a squad filled with seasoned country football superstars.
Newman said he was excited for the challenge O&M would present.
“They are obviously a fantastic league with some enormous names that the Goulburn Valley doesn’t have any more, but we are confident we have a group of kids that will work really hard for one another,” he said.
“I have been involved in many an interleague game where we weren’t quite as good on paper and still won, so we’ll have a crack, play for the jumper and see where that takes us.”
2022 Goulburn Valley League senior football interleague squad
Ben Reid (Echuca), Logan Prout (Echuca), Jack McHale (Echuca), Jack Evans (Echuca), Riley Smith (Echuca), Sam Willoughby (Echuca), Jett Trotter (Euroa), Lachlan Smith (Kyabram), Jason Morgan (Kyabram), Thomas Holman (Kyabram), Zac Norris (Kyabram), Zac Keogh (Kyabram), Kaine Herbert (Kyabram), Jack Hutchins (Mansfield), Brett Mahoney (Mansfield), Patrick Marks (Mansfield), Chris Nield (Mooroopna), Steven Stroobants (Rochester), Michael Hartley (Seymour), Jack Murphy (Seymour), Mitchell Brett (Shepparton), Anthony Andronaco (Shepparton), Brad Ryan (Tatura)
EMERGENCIES
Tom Monahan (Echuca), Erishmiilan Uthayakumar (Euroa), Bradley Mangan (Kyabram), Anthony DePasquale (Kyabram), Kyle Clarke (Shepp United), Ted Lindon (Shepparton), Billy Cooper (Tatura)