MATCH PREVIEW - Senior Interleague
VERSATILITY is a key feature of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s senior footy team for its clash with the Victorian Amateur Football Association at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The blue and gold will be determined to bank on home-ground advantage against an opponent which won last year’s challenge at Elsternwick Park by 13 points.
The Bendigo squad of 26 includes 10 players who contested the ’24 clash with a VAFA squad drawn from Premier B to Division 3.
A multiple premiership winner and Bendigo FNL representative during his playing days with Golden Square, Simon Rosa has accepted the challenge of coaching Bendigo.
“We have a strong buy-in from across the competition,” Rosa said of a squad in which all of the league’s eight clubs are represented.
“We are expecting a high-quality match and for all of our team it’s a great honour to be representing Bendigo,” Rosa said.
Co-captains of Bendigo’s team will be Gisborne key defender Jack Reaper and Sandhurst on-baller Lachlan Tardrew.
They were opponents in last September’s grand final in which Sandhurst beat Gisborne.
Vice-captain will be Fergus Greene who earned the Ron Best Medal as he led the competition’s goalkicking last season.
All three of the leaders bring plenty of big-game experience to this match.
Tardrew was previously captain of Collingwood in the VFL, and Greene had stints at AFL level with Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn.
Reaper was one of Gisborne’s best in the ’22 premiership win.
Options in Bendigo’s attack include South Bendigo’s Kaiden Antonowicz and Brock Harvey, Gisborne’s Harry Luxmoore and Matt Merrett, Castlemaine’s Michael Hartley and Golden Square’s Jayden Burke.
A previous winner of the Ron Best Medal as the competition’s leading goalkicker, Antonowicz leads this season’s race by a goal from Harvey.
Back with the Bloods are being co-coach as White Hills won last season’s Heathcote DFNL premiership, Antonowicz has played a key role in South’s rise into the top five.
In his second year coaching at Castlemaine, Hartley has predominantly played in attack, but can also be switched to defence or into the ruck, if needed.
Hartley also brings experience from his time with Collingwood, Essendon and Hawthorn.
Captain of Golden Square, Jayden Burke starred at centre half-forward in the premiership victory of ’23 and has played the majority of this season in defence.
Originally selected in Bendigo’s under-19 squad, Eaglehawk’s Jack O’Shannessy was also named in the senior line-up and could start on a forward flank or pocket.
A massive role will be played by South Bendigo’s Callum Crisp in the ruck as he teams with the likes of Bloods’ clubmate Brody Haddow, Tardrew, Golden Square’s Jordan Rosengren, Sandhurst’s Cooper Smith and Strathfieldsaye’s Bode Stevens at centre ball-ups.
In defence Bendigo has the marking power of Reaper and Sandhurst’s Lachlan Wright, and the run and skill of South Bendigo’s Jack Fallon, Sandhurst’s Matt Wilkinson and Gisborne’s Zac Vescovi.
Outstanding seasons by Kangaroo Flat captain Ethan Roberts and Golden Square midfielder Tom Strauch also earned a place in the squad of 26 from which 23 will play.
Also in the running to wear the blue and gold were Eaglehawk’s Ben Thompson, Sandhurst’s Lachie Hood, Cobi Maxted and Cooper Smith, and Strathfieldsaye’s Cooper Jones.
There are strong links to Bendigo’s inter-league history through this year’s squad as Tom Strauch’s father, Dean, and Ben Thompson’s father, Darren were both outstanding contributors at club and league level across many years.
The Bendigo FNL player adjudged best of ground will receive the Derrick Filo Medal which is named after the BFNL Hall of Fame Member and representative football legend.
Filo represented the Blue & Gold of the BFNL 23 times across his illustrious career along with 400 BFNL Senior games and 5 BFNL Premierships.
VAFA coach Luke Mahoney and the selectors had the daunting task of finalising a team from which 50 clubs were in contention.
Callum Linehan from Beaumaris will line up at full-back and also captain the VAFA.
Vice-captains are Matt Fewings from Mazenod and Will Nicholas from Old Melburnians.
Jack Sheridan from Old Geelong will start in the ruck and team up with Jordan Busuttil from Williamstown CYMS, and Old Trinity’s Christos Manoussakis.
Key targets in attack will be Fitzroy’s Darcy Lowrie and Preston’s Luke Green.
There are some famous footballing surnames in the Victorian Amateur team.
Players to watch for the VAFA include Ben Ablett from West Brunswick, and Matthew Clarkson from Caulfield Grammarians.
Just how well the Amateurs are connected will be a test as 14 clubs are represented in this team on Bendigo’s turf.
