The squad of 53 was released last night, with the inter-league match scheduled for Saturday, May 22, at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Those who put their hand up to play against Ballarat last year have again been rewarded with selection in this season’s training squad.

Of last year’s victorious inter-league team, Brodie Filo, BFL chief executive officer Steven Oliver, who was a last-minute call-up, Anthony Belcher, Callan Potter and Ryan Webster are no longer playing in the league, while Tyrone Downie, Michael Leech and Clayton Anderson are either injured or recovering from injuries.

Two other members of last year’s team - Maryborough’s Matthew Bilton and South Bendigo’s Ryan Connaughton - are among five players named on the supplementary list pending injury, along with Eaglehawk’s Josh Gitsham and Golden Square duo Jack Geary and Luke Hammond.

All 53 players named have made themselves available, and have the backing of their club coach.

And that means there could be a potential potent forward line of James Condos (Kyneton), Grant Weeks (Golden Square), Justin Maddern (Kangaroo Flat) and Matthew Brown (Maryborough), who have all been named.

“This year’s selection was difficult, with a large number of players making themselves available, as well as the depth of quality within the squad,’’ Oliver said.

“Those players who have missed initial selection still have over the next four weeks the opportunity to force their way into the squad, and they will be keenly observed by the selection panel.’’

The team will again be coached by Jeff Brennan, who, with a gameplan built around youth and speed, guided the BFL to a memorable 21-point win over goldfields rivals Ballarat at Bacchus Marsh last year in a 37-goal shoot-out.

Eaglehawk and Golden Square, shaping as the two power sides of 2010, both lead the way, with each club having nine players picked in the training squad.