North Bendigo and Leitchville-Gunbower players make up half of the HDFNL inter-league training squad.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Bulldogs and Bombers combine for 21 representatives in the 42-man training squad for next month’s AFL Victoria Community Football Championships clash with Central Murray at the QEO.
Leitchville-Gunbower has the most representatives with 12, while the reigning premier Bulldogs have nine.
North’s contingent includes star full-forward Sam Barnes, Cheatley Medal winner Tyson Findlay and recruits Lachlan Ford, Rhys Ford and Joel Helman.
North centre half-forward Brady Herdman is not in the squad.
Leitchville’s core group of elite players that have led the club to the past two grand finals are in the squad, while the Bombers’ former two Strathfieldsaye players Matthew Ladson and Michael Pilcher have also been included.
The unbeaten White Hills Demons have four players in the squad – Lachlan Furness, Matt Lehane, Lachlan Sidebottom and Hayden Wright – but league leading goal kicker Sean Christopher is a notable omission.
Heathcote and Lockington-Bamawm United are the only two clubs without a representative in the squad.
Dean Laidley, who coached North Melbourne in 149 games between 2003 and 2009, will coach the HDFNL squad.
The 49-year-old has also held assistant roles at Port Adelaide, St Kilda and Carlton. Laidley takes over as coach from new Bendigo Pioneers coach Rick Coburn.
The first training session for the HDFNL squad will be held this Sunday, April 30, at the Elmore Recreation Reserve, starting at 11pm.
Further training sessions have been scheduled for Sunday, May 7, also at 11am at Elmore, with the final session for the selected team to be held on Thursday, May 11 at Huntly from 6pm.
The HDFNL versus Central Murray clash will be at the QEO on May 13 at 1.30pm.
HDFNL training squad:
Colbinabbin: Damien Carmody, Dan Hill, Tom Hill, Nick Knight, Natt Nixon, Pat O’Brien, Sam Vale.
Elmore: Danny Brewster, James Harney.
Huntly: Jacob Greenwood, Dan Paterson, Lachie Ryan, Phil Ryan, Ryan Semmel, Harry Whittle.
Leitchville-Gunbower: Hoby Bussey, Daniel Coates, Daniel Couwenberg, Joel Donehue, Brady Hore, Matthew Ladson, Jackson McEwen, Matthew Perri, Michael Pilcher, Matthew Pollock, Ryan Prendergast, Shaun Turvey.
Mount Pleasant: Ryan Herring, Carl Thiesz.
North Bendigo: Sam Barnes, Jarrod Findlay, Tyson Findlay, Jordan Ford, Rhys Ford, Joel Helman, Alex Shipard, Brett Strange, Nick Waterson.
White Hills: Lachlan Furness, Matt Lehane, Lachlan Sidebottom, Hayden Wright.
