THE Bendigo Football League’s hopes of defeating Ballarat in their inter-league clash today have been dealt a further blow, with key forward Justin Maddern ruled out.
Maddern had been named at centre half-forward, and was the best credentialled player in the Bendigo side, having previously represented Queensland, played senior VFL football and done a pre-season with Essendon.
However, a hip injury has forced the star goalkicker out of the side.
Maddern is the BFL’s leading goalkicker after six rounds with 26.
Maddern’s withdrawal is the latest headache for Bendigo coach Jeff Brennan, who was forced to spend much of yesterday on the phone searching for a replacement.
At 9pm last night, Brennan was yet to confirm who would take Maddern’s place in the team.
“Not having Justin is a big loss because he is a terrific player,’’ Brennan said.
“However, within the structure of how we’re going to play, we believe we can cover him with another athletic-type player.
“So for the way we’re going to play, we believe we will be able to cover that position, but it is going to be difficult to cover that particular player because he is so good.’’
Bendigo will go into today’s match at Bacchus Marsh’s Maddingley Park as the underdogs, with Brennan urging his young side - which has 16 first-time inter-league players - to “take the game on at all costs’’.
“We’re going to play high risk, high reward footy and we will just take them on at all times,’’ Brennan said.
“We’ve picked a side that is going to run and we’ve picked a side with flexibility, with players who can play forward, back and midfield.
“If we’re going to play stock-standard structural football Ballarat will be too big and too strong.
“So we need to attack this game a different way, and the way is speed, hard-running and maintaining use of the ball.’’
Bendigo last beat Ballarat in an inter-league game in 2000, winning the division two grand final 11.10 (76) to 10.10 (70) when Neville Massina was coach.
In their two meetings since, Ballarat has won both by margins of 19 points (2004) and 23 points (2007).
“Regardless of the calibre of blokes who aren’t playing, for Bendigo to beat Ballarat in their home surrounds would be a big win,’’ Brennan said.
“If we could beat them with a young, developing group it would be a terrific win by the league.
”The boys are all really confident, and the great thing about going with young players is they don’t think too much about the job or who we’re playing.
“All they think about is going out and playing a game of football.
“So the mindgames don’t become as great for young kids . . . all they are worried about is they see the footy, go and get it and use it, simple as that.’’
Meanwhile, ex-North Melbourne player Callum Urch is a late withdrawal for Ballarat, with Scott Howard his replacement.
Today’s senior game at Bacchus Marsh starts at 2.15pm.
Bendigo’s inter-league team:
Ollie Messaoudi (captain), Clayton Anderson, Anthony Belcher, Leigh Rees, Ryan Connaughton, Michael Leech, Ryan Webster, Adam Baird, Lee Coghlan, Matthew Bilton, Casey Summerfield, Brady Herdman, Tyrone Downie, Callan Potter, Brodie Filo, Tim Nicolson, Mark Lloyd, Josh Gitsham, Ryan Threlfall, Shaun Comerford, Jono Gawthrop, Ben Rose, Dale Ciunik.
Bendigo’s inter-league campaign is sponsored by Workforce XS.
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