The GOTAFE Goulburn Valley Football League and Essendon District Football League have agreed to an U18 game prior to the senior 2016 WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championship game on 21st May.
GOTAFE GVFL Chairman David Roff is excited at the prospect of the league’s best youngsters competing in the revamped interleague format.
"It is going to be a big challenge for our rising stars to play against a strong metro league but the Board has no doubt the team will put their best foot forward" he said.
"The U18 competition is a vital cog in the GOTAFE GVFL and is a key development arm for all of our clubs."
"To be selected in interleague is a great honour and our U18 players will again have that opportunity to impress selectors early in the season and perform on the big stage as the curtain raiser to the senior game."
"The Board is also keen to see a strong Goulburn Valley representation at the EDFL clash and with the U18s now playing there is an added incentive for more people to make the trip to Melbourne to support our boys."
EDFL General Manager Marc Turri views the U18 game as the ideal curtain raiser.
"It is exciting for the metropolitan leagues to be integrated into the former Worksafe Country Championships" he said.
"With the U18 match a strong feature of the Championships in the past, the EDFL is delighted to embrace the full concept of the Championships with Seniors and Under 18s and we look forward to our highly anticipated match against the GOTAFE GVFL."
GOTAFE GVFL U18 coach Jason Wells is excited at the new challenge that presents itself for his team.
"After the disappointment of missing out on an interleague game last year it is great news that we will have the chance to play against a League we have never met before" he said.
"Interleague footy is a big challenge for players and I am rapt that our best U18 footballers will have the chance to pull on the prestigious GVFL jumper."
"Our last U18 loss was in 2011 and the team of coaches and I will ensure we put our best team forward to keep that record intact against what we expect will be a strong EDFL."
The two games against the EDFL in the 2016 WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships will be held on Saturday 21 May with the venue and starting times to be confirmed over the coming weeks.
Last Modified on 27/09/2016 17:32