Western Region Football League coach Brett Jacobs and his team of assistants have the unenviable task of trimming back the interleague squad without practice matches as a guide.
The WRFL has been training for weeks, but without having players available for competitive match play, cuts are being made on training form, team balance and club practice matches.
“It’s not easy,” Jacobs told the Weekly after cutting back the squad to 32.
“It’s going to be even tougher next week when we have to cut more players. That’s the role we’ve got and we have to make those decision and stand by them.
“It’s all about getting the right side together on the day and, hopefully, moving forward.”
The WRFL will take on the Southern Football League at Visy Park at 11.15am on March 29.
The two leagues are the lowest ranked of the six involved in the AFL Victoria Metro Championships.
Jacobs can sense a real hunger within his squad to start making inroads on the higher-ranked competitions.
“They have really put their hands up and are training at a high intensity,” Jacobs said.
“They play club practice matches on weekends and put their bodies on the line in training so they really want to be part of it.
“We did some defensive competitive work the other night and the blokes didn’t hold back. They were flat out, so there’s a good vibe among the group.”
One of the biggest names in the WRFL squad, Jason Cloke, has been named captain.
Cloke, 31, played 76 games and kicked 10 goals with Collingwood, but has since played an integral role in Spotswood’s continued success in division 1.
For Jacobs, reputations mean little; it’s what the players show on the training track that matters.
Cloke, along with vice-captains Jordan Robbins (Altona) and Tim Jenkins (St Albans), are head and shoulders above the rest.
“He’s been a standout at training,” Jacobs said. “He’s really excited about it and we’re delighted guys like him have bought in the concept and put their hand up to be a part of it.
“We want the good players to play so we’re really rapt at this stage.”
