IT’S about this time of the year when interleague discussions would traditionally start taking place – who’s in, who missed out and whether the best of the Central Murray can match it with the best of the rest.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on which side of the fence you sit, that’s once again not the case, with interleague football and netball appearing dead in the water, never to return following COVID.
With no plans afoot, at least publicly, to revive the AFL Victoria Community Championships, the question that needs to be asked is whether there is even an appetite for representative footy, or would the clubs and players prefer to just play one less game a year?
After canvassing well over 20 players and coaches from across the region this week, the consensus was in favour of a return, but in a slightly different format than previously played.
For the older players, it was a hard no, preferring the week off and a chance to rest their aging bodies.
But surprisingly, the younger players were all for the return of representative football – in fact, they were desperate for it.
Marcus Demaria was the last Central Murray interleague coach and led them to a nine-point victory over Gippsland in 2019.
It ranked the league 10th in the championships before COVID had its way.
The demise of the competition has left a sour taste in Demaria’s mouth, with the current Woorinen coach hoping sense prevails sooner rather than later.
“I’d love to see it come back,” Demaria said.
“We were just starting to make progress in 2019 and I felt the tables were starting to turn for us.
“I felt there were blokes from outside the area that we had interested in playing, and I’ll use Matt O’Dwyer and Phil Smith from Koondrook-Barham as examples of that.
“The year we beat Gippsland, we were massive underdogs and to have made our way inside the top 10 on the rankings after that was a massive thing for our league.
“I honestly feel it’s an important part of local community football and netball and the powers that be need to find a way to make it happen again.”
One suggestion from a current senior coach within the Central Murray was whether the next iteration of interleague football should be restricted to under 25 players only.
This would save the older bodies from another taxing game of football, while at the same time showcasing the talented youth that each region has to offer.
It could even be played prior to the season proper, in a similar vein to the Sunraysia Football & Netball League’s Dreamtime at the P feature match earlier this month.
Just imagine watching Kerang’s Sean Hunter running off half back, handing it to the Mallee Eagles’ Darcy McGregor, who then kicks it down to Balranald’s Drew Lloyd, who sits on the head of an opponent.
It’s a thought that should have the most ardent of local football fans salivating, but alas, it’s nothing more than a pipe dream at the moment.
One can only hope the dream one day becomes reality.
