We must be the only two blokes in Bendigo who weren't selected in last week's BFL inter-league squad for the game against Ballarat.

Surely, a squad of 70 is a bit over the top, isn't it?

AB: A squad of 70 does seem excessive, but it's something the league has done in the past few years and the bottom line is we have been successful.

A big squad probably helps with getting buy-in from players.

The most intriguing thing for me is who will make themselves available out of the squad of 70 to take on Ballarat.

Will Stephen Milne play inter-league footy again? Tim Martin won't be available because of his fire brigade training commitments. Will Sam Mildren be available? Will some of the big name recruits who have come into the league this year put their hand up to play?

​Put your selectors hat on and give me your final squad of 24.

LW: This is off the top of my bald head and assuming all these players are available and will put their hand up for selection:

B: Clayton Anderson, Tim Walsh, Tyler Miles.

Hb: Jon Coe, Matt Thornton, Tim Hill.

C: Brodie Filo, Jack Geary, Alik Magin.

Hf: Rhys Magin, Ben Sonogan, Corey Jones.

F: Stephen Milne, Sam Mildren, Mitch Dole.

Foll: Tom Waters, Simon Rosa, Matt Smith.

Inter: Nick Lang, Ben Weightman, Shaun Everington, Justin Dorward, David Gallagher, Sam Heavyside.

Obviously, no Tim Martin in the team as you alluded to earlier, while Milne (ankle), Jones (hamstring) and Walsh (ankle) are in that side on the proviso that they are fit.

I've also gone with Mitch Dole, who if he plays his first game of the season next week as the Dragons expect, will have three games under his belt before inter-league.

And I've included Essendon VFL-listed Sam Heavyside on the understanding that he wouldn't be included in the squad unless he would be eligible.

AB: Not too many arguments from me.

I'd find a spot for Jake Hall on the bench instead of his Storm team-mate Gallagher and I'd have Weightman start on the ground instead of Rhys Magin.

I'd be tempted to have another key position player in the final squad of 24 as well. It's a close call between Gisborne's Matt Knox, Golden Square's Ryan Herring or Kangaroo Flat's Cam Rinaldi.

The good sign for BFNL coach Rick Ladson is he has plenty of depth in all positions on the ground.

If, and I stress if, the majority of players in the squad put their hand up to play inter-league footy, Bendigo has a great chance of knocking off Ballarat and advancing to the top four of the rankings.

LW: Enormous incentive for Bendigo on May 23.

Not only are we playing the old foe Ballarat, who knocked us off two years ago, but we can't just keep treading water in that bracket of 5 v 6 and 7 v 8 games that we have been stuck in since 2010.

AB: You're lucky you had the gig at Canterbury Park on Saturday. I reckon your TV remote would have copped a hiding had you been watching your beloved Bombers lose to the mighty Magpies.

Honestly, I get more enjoyment out of watching Collingwood defeat Essendon than any other team. The fact that I have to sit between you and old mate Doley everyday probably has something to do with it.

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