CASTLEMAINE coach Shane Robertson has questioned the Bendigo Football League's inter-league selection process after no Magpies were picked in this week's 73-man training squad.
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The BFL requested via email last month that all clubs put up five names for consideration for the inter-league team that will play Gippsland at the Queen Elizabeth Oval on May 24.
A miscommunication within the club resulted in no Magpies' players being put forward for selection via the deadline, with Castlemaine the only club with no players in the squad.
While the Magpies admit fault at not providing any names for consideration, they are frustrated that there were no Castlemaine players picked when selectors added further players to the squad on top of the nominations from each club.
"To send an email to all clubs asking them to nominate players is pretty average to start with," Robertson said on Friday.
"If I was involved in inter-league, I would be picking the blokes I wanted, regardless, and then make them make a decision.
"I don't think it has anything to do with the club. Inter-league is inter-league and you pick your best side... if players are injured or don't want to play, then it becomes an individual thing.
"I've never in the past as a coach agreed or disagreed with someone playing inter-league; it's the individual's decision.
"I can't believe how this has got out of whack because the league is blaming our club - our club is not unprofessional.
"I've heard they've added another 15 or 20 of their own, so why couldn't they have added a couple from Castlemaine into a squad of 73; it doesn't make sense to me."
AFL Central Victoria operations manager Justin Abrams declined to comment on the Magpies' selection process frustrations, but said in a media release earlier in the week: "In a different approach we have included all of our clubs in the process for the initial training squad."
Meanwhile, Castlemaine meets Eaglehawk at Canterbury Park in round five on Saturday.
Both teams are coming off Anzac Day losses last week.
The Hawks went down to Kangaroo Flat by 15 points, while the Magpies kicked just two goals in a 124-point loss to Strathfieldsaye.
"We've had a couple of those tough days like last week and we're learning as we go," Robertson said.
"But I can't tolerate the way we were beaten last week, so we've addressed a few things behind closed doors in regards to our approach to the better sides we've played, which has been fairly ordinary.
"We're taking each game as it comes and we'll be focused and ready for Eaglehawk."
Saturday's game at Eaglehawk starts at 2.20pm.