VFL footy come to Swan Hill on Sunday, May 25, when Bendigo Gold takes on North Ballarat.
Many players from the local region have followed the pathway to the VFL through the Central Murray League.
Ahead of the big match, Bendigo Gold coach Aussie Jones has put together his best team of CMFNL players to have played in the VFL.
“I have put together a team of players from the immediate past that have started their careers in the Central Murray Football League that have gone on to play senior games at VFL level.
I didn’t include players that played VFL purely through an alignment with an AFL partner, such as Brent Guerra.
While I don’t come from the area, I have spoken to a number of people within the area to compile the list.
I have no doubt that there will be some I have forgotten, however the purpose for doing this was to highlight the pathway and the opportunities that the VFL provides for young players from this region to play at an elite level. Not only have these players been great servants to their home club, they have all had varying degrees of influence at VFL, the best league outside the AFL.
Our club relies heavily on this area to attract young men that wish to better themselves, or keep the dream alive to be drafted to an AFL Club. It’s important that if these young men wish to follow this dream they should not be forced into shifting to Melbourne, and they have the options of Bendigo and Ballarat.
It is an honour for our club to be able to bring VFL to Swan Hill, and to allow some of players from the area to play in front of friends and family, and many people that have had a huge bearing on their career.”
– Aussie Jones
AUSSIE JONES’ BEST CMFNL/VFL SIDE
Backs Toby Thoolen (Swan Hill- Port Melbourne/Frankston) Troy Davis (Kerang-Casey Scorpians) Luke Kiel (Swan Hill-North Ballarat)
Half Backs Lance Brown(Mallee Eagles-North Ballarat) Callum Beasy (Swan Hill-Northern Blues) Grant Ford (Swan Hill-Bendigo Bombers)
Centres Chris Worner (Mallee Eagles-Springvale) Leigh Master (Tyntynder-Coburg/ Williamstown) Marcus Nalder (Tyntynder-North Ballarat)
Half Forwards Brock Shiels (Tyntynder-Bendigo Diggers) Luke Livingston (Kerang-Port Melbourne) Matt O’Toole (Tyntynder-Bendigo Bombers)
Forwards Simon Weekly (Tyntynder- Bendigo Bombers) Brad Carroll (Tyntynder-Northern Blues) Hugh Foote (Swan Hill-North Ballarat)
Rucks Josh Jenkins (Lake Boga-Bendigo Bombers) Stephen Stroobants (Swan Hill-Bendigo Bombers/ Bendigo Gold) Troy Coates (Kerang-Williamstown)
Interchange Troy Kelm (Kerang-Bendigo Gold) Josh Free (Mallee Eagles-Port Melbourne) Billy McGuiness (Woorinen-Bendigo Gold)
Do you agree? Is there anyone Aussie has left out? Let us know by commenting below or heading to our Facebook page.
