Diggers Rest Football Club will host one of nine community games of the AFL International Cup to be held in August.
The match, between France and Indonesia’s men’s teams, will be held before the round 18 Riddell District Football League clash between the Burras and Rupertswood at Diggers Rest.
The cup features 18 men’s teams and seven women’s teams from across the world and will include a round robin fixture before finals to crown a men’s and women’s winner.
It’s the first time there has been a community round.
RDFL operations manager Toby Boyle said the league was excited about the match.
“We had a meeting at the start of the year with the AFL and they made a presentation to all leagues and asked for expressions of interest.
“We looked at the round, and it coincided with round 18 of the final round of the regular season.
“We then asked if any of the clubs wanted to be involved.”
Only the Burras and Rupo expressed any interest.
“Rupertswood has a relationship with the South African team, so naturally they wanted to be involved,” said Boyle.
“Diggers Rest wanted to look at doing something different.
“Rupertswood couldn’t host the event as they were playing away, but [that] the two teams interested were playing each other worked out brilliantly.”
The league then put in an expression of interest to the AFL.
“We have been working with the AFL to try and get the teams we wanted to play out here, but we didn’t get those teams,” said Boyle.
“The idea was to keep the teams as close to Melbourne as possible, so besides Geelong and Bendigo we are the only league outside of Melbourne to get a game.
“We are probably lucky as we are on the border of Melbourne that they selected us.”
Burras president Chris Payne said the club’s reaction had been all positive.
“We wanted to try something different from a club point of view and sat down and discussed it.
“It’s the first time we have looked at something like this. Being a small community, it will not only impact the football club but also the community.
“We then spoke to Toby about it and he was keen for us to apply.
“I think it will be good for the league.”
Payne said the club would look to make a day of it.
“Between myself, Toby and Paul [Ross, Rupo president] we will sit down and come up with ideas for the day and getting the teams’ communities involved in the local area on the day and beforehand.
