NORTH Central coach Mark Lloyd says this year’s inter-league team has been picked with one eye on beating Geelong District, the other on the future.
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Just as it did in 2013, North Central will travel south to take on Geelong District at St Albans Reserve in Geelong in the 18 v 19 clash.
“We’ve got a good blend of youth and experience and one of our focuses this year has been to include some development players,” Lloyd said on Thursday.
“Brody Haddow, Nathan Holt, Luke Mulquiny and Nick Baldwin are young players from the local area who have been given a chance.
“In the past these types of kids have played good senior football, but have been overlooked for inter-league by the big-name recruits into the league.
“But we really wanted to add in some young players who have been playing good senior footy for a couple of years.
“Hopefully, they really enjoy the experience of the weekend and it can be the start of them becoming inter-league players for at least the next five years.
“I remember in 2009 when I played in a Bendigo inter-league team against Ballarat with a hell of a lot of kids and they showed they were up to the standard and all of a sudden, there was a platform to build from.”
When the leagues last met two years ago, North Central thumped Geelong District by 61 points.
However, it will be a vastly different team that takes to the field this time, with just seven players from the 2013 victory lining up again.
“That was a star-studded side a couple of years ago, but we’re really happy with this group,” Lloyd said.
“Apparently, it’s a very big ground, which we hope will work in our favour on Saturday.”
NORTH CENTRAL v GEELONG DISTRICT
ST ALBANS RESERVE, GEELONG, 2.10pm SATURDAY
NORTH CENTRAL
B: Boe Bish, Jake DeAraugo, Hayden Polglase
Hb: Brody Haddow, Rhys Thompson, Dale Hinkley
C: Nathan Holt, Luke Hammond, Daniel Ratcliffe
Hf: Jordan Hargreaves, Jackson Hogan, Ricky Allan
F: Sam O'Loughlin, Danny Benaim, Daniel Castellano
Foll: Brett Strange, Caleb Bloomer, Luke Fisher.
Interchange: (from) Luke Mulquiny, Nick Garner, Robert Tonkin, Sam Taylor, Nick Baldwin, Chris Howgate, Joe McGrath
GEELONG DISTRICT
B: Corey Collins, Tom Parsons, Cam Addie
Hb: Brad McKenzie, Steve Richert, Luke Parker
C: Phil Jones, James Chandler, Brad Watts
Hf: Caleb Bacely, Dalton Grundell, Jackson McLeod
F: Jamie Pitman, Tom Mullane-Grant, Ryan Garrard
Foll: James Fisher, Derek Fitzsimmons, Dylan Witney
Interchange: David Holzfeind, Blake Hutchison, Jack Braumann, Brad Anderson
