The Northern Football League has named a 33-man squad for its WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships match against Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League.
The two teams, which are ranked third and fourth, will face each other on May 19 at Preston City Oval. The winner will have the chance to next season play off to be named the best community league in the state.
The NFL squad includes players from every division 1 club, along with representatives from division 2 sides, Eltham and Banyule.
Macleod coach Garry Ramsay will coach the side for a second straight season, having led them to a 125-point win against Western Region Football League last season.
Of last year’s team, 21 players have been named in this year’s squad.
Premiers Bundoora are one of two teams to have five players in the squad. North Heidelberg is the other.
Matthew Dennis, who was co-captain of the interleague team last season, has been named along with Bulls premiership players Liam Byrne, Josh Grabowski, Brent Marshall and Nathan Thomas.
Whittlesea duo Jaron Murphy and Jai Robinson have also been named in the squad.
Ramsay said he was confident in the playing squad that had been assembled.
“I’m really confident with that group going forward,” Ramsay said.
“We were really pleased the way last year’s group went. We had a 125-point win and the group we had together, they didn’t do much wrong.
“There will be some additions to cover the ones we have lost and fill a couple of spots but we’re really confident in our own local talent.”
Ramsay’s coaching panel consists of Jono Manzoney, Brett Jeffery and Trevor Robinson, Whittlesea coach Jim Atkins and Montmorency’s Grant Woodward.
There will be three matches on May 19 at Preston, with the under-19s and senior women’s side also playing interleague matches.
The under-19s will be coached by Greensborough’s Rod Cann for a third straight year, while Chyloe Kurdas will coach the inaugural women’s interleague side.
The women will face a combined AFL South East side.
The league will also play in two netball matches against Eastern Football League on the Friday night.
