BFNL vice-captain Andy Collins has been ruled out of Saturday's AFL Victoria Community Championships clash with Outer East at the QEO.
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On Tuesday afternoon Collins was named in the squad of 28 for the game, but by Tuesday night he'd been ruled out with a calf injury that hampered him in Sandhurst's loss to Eaglehawk last Saturday.
It's the second year in succession injury has forced Collins to miss inter-league action.
Gisborne's Trent Crosie (thigh) was also ruled out on Tuesday night, leaving BFNL coach Darryl Wilson and his selectors a squad of 26 to choose from.
The final team of 24 will be announced after the final training session on Thursday night.
"We decided we weren't going to take any injured players in and it's disappointing for both Trent and Andy,'' Wilson said after Tuesday night's training session at the QEO..
''It makes things a little bit easier for selection, but it's not as easy as club footy.
''We think we have a good mix of youth and experience and we're really excited about what we've put together.
''The commitment from the players has been super and we're left with a hard job to pick a final team of 24.'
Former AFL players Angus Monfries and Stewart Crameri made themselves unavailable for selection.
Monfries injured his hamstring on Saturday, while Crameri is overseas.
There could be as many as 17 first-time BFNL representatives in the final team.
Castlemaine's Jake O'Brien, Gisborne trio Pat McKenna, Jack Scanlon and Matt Goodyear, Golden Square trio Jayden Burke, Alex Marklew and Liam Barrett, Kyneton's Harrison Huntly and Josh Govan, Sandhurst's Jake Pallpratt, South Bendigo duo Nathan Horbury and Callum Crisp and Strathfieldsaye quintet Hugh Robertson, Bryce Curnow, Sam Heavyside, Bailey Henderson and Harry Crone are in line to pull on the blue and gold jumper for the first time.
''One of the areas we focused heavily on was flexibility,'' Wilson said.
''If plan A doesn't work then we have other options.
''We're confident we have the group that can get the job done.''
Saturday's game at the QEO starts at 2.15pm, with the under-18 clash to kick-off at noon.
BFNL seniors squad of 26 for the clash with Outer East:
Jake O'Brien Castlemaine
Brodie Collins Eaglehawk
Ben McPhee Eaglehawk
Matt Goodyear Gisborne
Pat McKenna Gisborne
Jack Scanlon Gisborne
Jack Geary Golden Square
Adam Baird Golden Square
Jayden Burke Golden Square
Jake Thrum Golden Square
Liam Barrett Golden Square
Alex Marklew Golden Square
Jonathan Lanyon Kangaroo Flat
Rhys Magin Kyneton
Josh Govan Kyneton
Harrison Huntly Kyneton
Jake Pallpratt Sandhurst
Kaiden Antonowicz South Bendigo
Callum Crisp South Bendigo
Nathan Horbury South Bendigo
Lachlan Sharp Strathfieldsaye
Hugh Robertson Strathfieldsaye
Bailey Henderson Strathfieldsaye
Sam Heavyside Strathfieldsaye
Harry Crone Strathfieldsaye
Bryce Curnow Strathfieldsaye
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