The Bendigo Football Netball League's most decorated inter-league player in the past decade has supported the league's focus on the retention of representative football.
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Golden Square star Jack Geary wants to continue to pull on the BFNL's blue and gold jumper despite AFL Victoria's recent decision to drop the Community Championships.
Despite AFL Victoria's decision, the BFNL has indicated it would work to find a suitable inter-league opponent for a challenge game in 2020.
"Inter-league footy is inter-league footy whether it's structured by AFL Victoria or not,'' Geary said.
"I'd still have the same pride in playing for the BFNL and I'm sure all the blokes at Golden Square that have played in the past five years or so would be the same."
The most attractive opponents for the BFNL in Geary's eyes were Goulburn Valley and Ballarat.
"We played Outer East this year, we didn't know anyone in the opposition and we won by 100 points - that's no fun for anyone,'' Geary said.
"It would be more enjoyable playing against a league closer to Bendigo where we can build a rivalry.
"To play against Ballarat or the Goulburn Valley would be great. I'd love to get the chance to play the GV. I think we'd be more than competitive against them.
"Throughout the Bendigo Junior Football League program inter-league is against Ballarat every year and a rivalry has been built around that.
"There's no reason why that wouldn't work in senior footy as well.
"Bendigo inter-league was starting to boom again in the past few years...it would be a shame for it to stop completely."
Meanwhile, Geary joined more than 40 of his Golden Square team-mates for the first official pre-season training session at Wade Street on Monday night.
Star recruit Jaryd Cachia made the trip from Melbourne to meet his new team-mates.
The former Carlton midfielder and the Bulldogs were put through a searching session by coach Bernie Haberman.
Shepparton Bears premiership players Liam Duguid and Joel Brett were also on deck for Square.
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