AFL Sydney will be looking to overturn recent history when they play AFL Cairns (Seniors at Blacktown) and the Riverina FL (Development Squad at Robertson Oval, Wagga Wagga) in representative clashes this June long weekend.
The coaching staff of the two squads are confident of improved showings are losing to their respective opponents in the last time they played two years ago.
Senior Preview vs AFL Cairns (9.30am Blacktown International Sports Park)
Senior representative coach, Rhys McAlister is looking forward to the challenge.
“I really believe Representative footy is the best forum we have to showcase the high level of talent that we have in this league,” he said.
“I am really excited about assembling a strong side that I want to play with real pride in their competition.”
The defender who has a vast amount of experience with clubs in NSW and the ACT believes the side can perform well on the big stage.
“The guys that we select to play all clearly understand how to play the game at a high level...so it will be kept very simple,” he said.
“We would like AFL Cairns to know they have played a hard, physical, pressure-oriented side who defend incredibly well.”
AFL Sydney have picked a strong squad with plenty of experience.
There are plenty of players able to be rotated through the midfield and able to win the contested ball in Alex Goodall, Tyrone Armitage, and Max Collett.
There are some electrifying small to mid-sized players in Doug Hadden who will be wearing his first Senior representative jumper, and Jeremy Kiel who can also go forward and kick goals.
Henry Mason and Nick Ryan will be key targets up forward, while Balmain duo Kris Ericson and Selby Lee-Steere will be pivotal in the ruck duels.
AFL Cairns are leaving no stone unturned for the big representative clash against AFL Sydney with six training sessions scheduled as they seek to retain the Challenge Shield that they won in the inaugural clash between the two leagues in 2011.
With a high number of Cairns local products in the AFL system, we can once again expect a top quality match on Saturday June 8 at Blacktown International Sports Park.
There is no doubt that coach Andy Viola’s game plan will revolve around getting the ball into the forward 50 as quickly as possible to AFL Cairns’ gun full forward and captain Matt Walsh, who last year broke the region’s all-time goal-kicking record with 131 snags. Walsh has represented Queensland Country a few times and has topped the ton twice in the tropical north. North Shore captain and representative veteran, Ron Wason will have a key role on Walsh.
Whilst the final team has yet to be announced, the AFL Cairns training squad is similar to AFL Sydney’s with a blend of players from interstate as well as some of the region’s most exciting young talent including emerging star and excitement machine Toby Fatnowna who kicked seven goals in an under 18 premiership decider. Keen followers of the AFL will also recognise familiar names appearing in the Cairns squad in Marc Harbrow (Jarrod) and Jesse Dixon (Charlie), the younger brothers of the Gold Coast Suns’ emerging stars that were plucked from the tropics a few years ago.
Sydney Squad: Doug Hadden, Hayden Nichols, Tyrone Armitage, Leigh Conway, Matthew Round, Sam Carruthers, Josh Parmenter, Matt Carey (c), Ryan Plant, Max Collett (vc), Matt Edwins, Dale Fitzgerald, Amua Parika, Alex Goodall, Jeremy Kiel, Tim Wales, Matthew Rawlinson, Nick Ryan, Kris Ericson, Matt Lemme, Henry Mason, Ron Wason
Cairns Squad: Kurt Bradshaw (Port Douglas), Adam Boone (Port Douglas), Thomas Clough (North Cairns), Jason Campbell (South Cairns), Steven Davies (North Cairns), Jesse Dixon (Cairns Saints), Damien Dewis (South Cairns), Tyson Ednie (Centrals TB), Lukas Ehlich (North Cairns), Clint Guy (Centrals TB), Clinton Gribble (Manunda Hawks), Marc Harbrow (Cairns City Lions), Matthew Harth (Cairns Saints), Shaun Knott (North Cairns), Daniel Lock (South Cairns), Ben McCartney (Port Douglas), Adam Mueller (North Cairns), Mark Nuggin (Port Douglas), Brenton Powell (Cairns Saints), Matthew Smart (Manunda Hawks), Brendan Tennick (North Cairns), Matthew Walsh (Cairns Saints), Dylan Wearmouth (Port Douglas), Joshua Westerberg (Centrals TB).
Development Squad vs Riverina FL (2.00pm at Robertson Oval, Wagga Wagga)
The Development Representative Squad will arguably have the greatest challenge against the Riverina Football League if their last clash is anything to go by.
The Riverina put on a devastating first-quarter display to blow their opponents out of the water and seal the match by quarter-time.
Chris Hughes oversaw a successful campaign last year at Farrer FL and notes he has unfinished business after being on the coaching staff in the match against Riverina in Newcastle in 2011.
The side has been crippled with unavailability and injury but Hughes is confident of a good showing.
“It’s always very difficult and I must admit, I was up there in Newcastle two years ago when (RFL) absolutely steam rolled us,” Hughes said.
“There is a little bit of revenge there and I’ve got no problems telling Troy (Maiden) that.
“Having said that, I think we’ve got a fairly good chance.
“It will definitely be a very competitive game and I think we’ve got a good enough game plan, that if we can implement it, we can inflict a home loss.”
Sydney under 23s have been forced to deal with player withdrawals, like RFL, but Hughes is happy with the team he has put together.
“It’s looking good,” Hughes said.
“We’ve had a fair few guys pull out but the replacements we’ve got are the same, if not better, as what we originally had so I’m very happy with that.
“We’re obviously bringing a young side, they’re good boys, nice and strong and we’ve also got good running players.”
Hughes said this team is much “smarter” than previous years.
“This year’s the first year where we’ve had the influence of the Talented Players Pathway (TPP) and the academies where a few kids have come through that system,” Hughes said.
“We’ve got some smarter players this time that have come through the TPP, played NEAFL and been in the Giants and Swans academies.
“They’re smarter footballers for that and with the big ground at Robertson Oval, they’ll be ready for that.”
Hughes said there will be a few players that they try to neutralise, most notably RFL full-forward Marc Geppert who kicked 91 goals last season.
Some of the key players will be Paul Sain as a ruckman and key forward, while St George duo Blake Guthrie and David Lycakis have impressed with their tenacity at training.
Matt Thomas is a class ball user with the captain expected to lead the way.
Riverina Football League coach Troy Maiden is expected to unveil a host of new faces when he announces his representative squad.
“There are a lot of good players around the league at the moment and a lot of players in good form," Maiden said yesterday.
"We've been out and about watching a lot of games, we've spoken to the coaches and got their input and feedback, and we think we've come up with a pretty good squad."
Coolamon and Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong's strong start to the season is expected to see both clubs strongly represented in the squad.
The likes of Mitch O'Brien and Murray Stephenson have all been in top form for Coolamon and will receive their first RFL representative jumper.
GGGM captain-coach Jayden Kotzur has also been in great touch, while Collingullie- Ashmont-Kapooka should still be heavily represented despite an indifferent start to the season.
"We looked at form, we want to reward the guys playing good footy," Maiden said. "We'll also look for the right guys who we know can play at that next level.
"We've got experience, and we've got young talent, too.”
AFL Sydney Squad:
Josiah Ayling, James Brackin, Stuart Brierty, Adam Byrne, James Clarke, Adam Cook, Tim Cummins, Paul Green, Blake Guthrie (vc), Mitchell Hogan, Ben Jones, Callum Kennedy, Harrison Koch, Marcus Linsen, David Lycakis, James Pascoe, Jordan Pidgeon, Anthony Robertson, Paul Sain, Matthew Thomas (c), Matthew Young, Josh Zoppo
Riverina Squad:
1. Chris Gordon – Collingullie
2. Guy Ward – MCUE
3. Guy Orton – Griffith
4. Jayden Kotzur – GGGM
5. Matt Rava – Wagga Tigers
7. Curtis Steele – GGGM
8. Jamie Maddox – Coolamon
9. Ben Absolum – Collingullie
10. Shaun Flanigan – Wagga Tigers
11. Mitchell O’Brien – Coolamon
12. Mitchell Stephenson – Coolamon
13. Daniel Kennedy – Collingullie
14. John Anstee – Wagga Tigers
15. Jim Rice – Narrandera
16. Marc Geppert – Collingullie
17. Ryan Price – MCUE
18. John Simpson – Wagga Tigers
19. Matt Noonan – Wagga Tigers
20. Murray Stephenson – Coolamon
21. Lew Roberts – Leeton Whitton
22. Evan Smith – Turvey Park
23. Jacob Olsson – GGGM
24. Jock Cornall – MCUE
25. James Toscan – Griffith
26. James Creasy - MCUE
Last Modified on 07/06/2013 12:28
