THE Golden Rivers Football League will attempt to record its first home venue win since returning to the AFL Victoria Community Championships in 2014.
Golden Rivers takes on Kyabram District for the second consecutive year at Murrabit tomorrow, with both sides to field vastly different teams to those that competed against each other at Tallygaroopna 12 months ago.
Golden Rivers prevailed by 67 points in the 2016 meeting, with the leagues to clash again in the 31st v 32nd-ranked encounter after a number of other leagues pulled out of the championships.
“Having played Kyabram District last year will make no such difference when it comes to the weekend, as both sides will be different (to those that took to the field 12 months ago),” GRFL coach, Paul Grayling said.
“Interleague is always the great unknown. All you can do is work on your own structures and execute them better than your opponents.”
The league announced a 59-member squad earlier last month, with close to 20 players in attendance the two training sessions held prior to last night’s final warm-up.
It has been a different situation for Kyabram District, which announced its 40-player squad two weeks ago and confirmed its 22-man side on Wednesday night.
Former Quambatook coach, Steve Reeves will oversee the visiting side, which named Victorian Football League-listed players Tim Dundon and Nick Mellington, as well as Tyson Sidebottom – the brother of Collingwood player, Steel Sidebottom – in its final squad.
“We have a fair bit of work to do after what we dished up last year,” Reeves said.
“We’ve lost a few players who are unavailable due to injury, but it is never possible to have your absolute best players take part in interleague.”
Hay utility, Jackson Ferguson stood out across the half-back line in Golden Rivers’ win last year, and he will be a key player tomorrow.
The former St Kilda player will be a key forward option for Grayling, who will also rely on the interleague experience of Daniel Watts and the height of Arnold Kirby to produce a win in front of a home crowd.
Sidebottom, Stanhope’s Excell boys – Jayden and Jack – and Violet Town forward, Rob Staff will be key players for Kyabram District, with the side staying overnight at Barham before venturing to Murrabit in the morning.
A spot in the top 30 leagues in AFL Victoria awaits for the victor, with the losing side to sit on the bottom of the rankings come Sunday.
PREDICTION: Kyabram District’s strength across the ground will result in a 30-point victory.
