THE Swan Hill Recreation Reserve will host this year’s AFL Victoria Community Championship match between the Central Murray and North Central leagues.
AFL Central Murray confirmed on Friday the Central Murray Football Netball League’s grand final venue will host the match between the State’s 21st and 22nd-ranked sides.
Kerang premiership coach, Troy Coates will coach the league’s senior side, working alongside fellow selectors, Koondrook/Barham’s Neil Brady, Swan Hill’s Hugh Foott and Nyah-Nyah West United’s Ash Thompson to end a five-year losing streak.
The four-person committee will select a 30-player squad to represent the league, which will be cut to 22 players by game day.
Tooleybuc/Manangatang’s Ryan O’Sullivan will captain the side, with Blues ruckman, Troy Davis and Swan Hill’s Matt Wade to assist as vice-captains.
Meanwhile, Woorinen’s Luke Crow has been announced as coach of the under 18 squad, with Cohuna’s Trevor Hird as coach of the under 15s.
Swan Hill’s Mads Nalder has been appointed as coach of the senior open netball team, with Woorinen’s Tess Burton announced as coach of under 17s. Lake Boga’s Chelsea Casey will coach the under 15s, whilst Vicki Taylor to oversee the under-13s.
The lower netball grades will participate in a series of regional tournaments, beginning on Sunday, May 8 at the Echuca and District Netball Tournament, followed by the Golden City Tournament in Bendigo on Sunday, May 15 and the Northern Zone Association Champs in Swan Hill on Sunday, May 29.
AFL Central Murray regional operations manager, David Alderuccio said it is expected that all players announced in the squads make themselves available to play, with exemptions in writing and submitted to the CMFNL board.
Football training schedules have also been announced for Wednesday, April 27 at Swan Hill (full squad), Sunday, May 8 at Swan Hill or Kerang (squad of 30) and Thursday, May 19 of the selected team.
Alderuccio said selection and nomination criteria will be distributed to clubs at a later date, along with information from the board regarding the opportunity to assist with catering on the day.
An exhibition girl’s football game is also earmarked.
“The CMFNL would like to wish all the coaches all the best in 2016 and hope that it can be a successful year for the CMFNL,” Alderuccio said.
“The CMFNL is very excited about hosting interleague in 2016 and see this as a great chance to promote our clubs and league on the day.”
