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AFL legend Kevin Sheedy believes North Bendigo's pre-season tournament should be the seed that sets in motion a competition to bring together country football's best teams and crown No.1 in the bush.
Sheedy is the ambassador for North Bendigo's Country Football Challenge being held over the weekend.
The tournament being played over three days features seven clubs - North Bendigo, Harcourt, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine, Maryborough, Swan Hill, Charlton and the Horsham Demons.
"I really like the concept of bringing clubs from across Victoria together," Sheedy told the Bendigo Advertiser.
"But what I'd really like to see the AFL get behind is a tournament in the pre-season that brings together the best teams of country football.
"We must try to innovate new ideas to inspire clubs to want to be great and to be known as the greatest country club in Victoria is a great idea.
"It would be great to have premiership teams from the year before be involved and this could be an added reward... the chance to be known as the greatest club in country Victoria and I've got no doubt you'd be able to get $100,000 sponsorship easily.
"I really think North Bendigo should put that idea to the AFL. I love ideas that don't come from the big league, but from clubs like North Bendigo... reward the people who have ideas.
"Victoria has got a lot of wonderful country football clubs. You could break it up into area sections and progress through a knockout stage until you're down to the last two playing off to be known as country Victoria's best team.
"You could do it over the course of a month and I think it would be a great way to lead into the new season, and also a great way in which to connect Victoria.
"You've always got to be moving forward with ideas and I think North Bendigo has come up with a really good idea with their tournament this weekend."
Having pioneered Anzac Day between Essendon and Collingwood and Dreamtime at the 'G between Essendon and Richmond as two blockbuster fixtures on the AFL calendar, Sheedy's latest marquee match concept is the Country Game between Essendon and Geelong to be this year held on May 5 at the MCG.
"I've got no doubt the Country Game could become as big as Anzac Day... there's 8.6 million people who live in the country and this is about celebrating and recognising their tireless work," Sheedy said.
"Everybody in the country should come to this to watch their game."
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